Methods, computer program products, and systems for managing quality of service in a communication network for applications

ABSTRACT

Quality of Service (QoS) in a communication network is managed. A service provider requests a level of QoS for communication in the communication network using a QoS request. The requested level of QoS may be allocated to the service provider based on the QoS request. The service provider may make the QoS request on its own initiative and/or in response to a request from an application that is hosted by the service provider. A QoS level may then be allocated to the service provider and/or to particular applications that are hosted by the service provider.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 60/470,650, filed May 15, 2003, the disclosure ofwhich is hereby incorporated herein by reference as if set forth in itsentirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION.

The present invention relates to communication networks, and, moreparticularly, to managing Quality of Service (QoS) in communicationnetworks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The Internet is a decentralized network of computers that cancommunicate with one another via the internet protocol (IP). Althoughthe Internet has its origins in a network created by the AdvancedResearch Project Agency (ARPA) in the 1960's, it has only recentlybecome a worldwide communication medium. To a large extent, theexplosive growth in use and traffic over the Internet is due to thedevelopment in the early 1990's of the worldwide Web (WWW), which is oneof several service facilities provided on the Internet. Other facilitiesinclude a variety of communication services such as electronic mail,telnet, usenet newsgroups, internet relay chat (IRC), a variety ofinformation search services such as WAIS and Archie, and a variety ofinformation retrieval services such as FTP (file transfer protocol) andGopher.

The WWW is a client-server based facility that includes a number ofservers (computers connected to the Internet) on which Web pages orfiles reside, as well as clients (Web browsers), which interface theusers with the Web pages. Specifically, Web browsers and softwareapplications send a request over the WWW to a server requesting a Webpage identified by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) which notes both theserver where the Web page resides and the file or files on that serverwhich make up the Web page. The server then sends a copy of therequested file(s) to the Web browser, which in turn displays the Webpage to the user.

The topology of the WWW can be described as a network of networks, withproviders of network service called Network Service Providers, or NSPs.Servers that provide application-layer services as previously describedmay be described as Application Service Providers (ASPs). Sometimes asingle service provider does both functions within a single business

In recent years, broadband access technologies, such as digitalsubscriber line (DSL), cable modems, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM),and frame relay have facilitated the communication of voice, video, anddata over the Internet and other public and private networks. Becausebroadband technologies are typically deployed by a single transportservice provider, like a Regional Bell Operating Company (RBOC), theirRegional and Access Networks (RAN) are often shared by many NSPs andASPs offering services that range from Internet access and VPN access toVoice over IP, Video on Demand, and Gaming. Up until recently, a givenCustomer Premises Network (CPN) would have been connected to a singleservice provider in a generic way, however a new standard for RANservice (DSL Forum TR-059) provides a RAN architecture that allowssimultaneous access to multiple NSPs and ASPs and for differentiatingthe data transport service provided by a RAN to these service providers.

Moreover, broadband access technology has allowed service providers toexpand their content and service offerings to both business and homeusers. For example, a user may subscribe to multiple services orapplications, such as voice service, Internet access service,-a videoservice, a-gaming service, etc. from one or more service providers.These services and/or applications may be delivered over a singlenetwork connection, such as a DSL line. Unfortunately,-with multiple newconnectivity options and applications that require specificcharacteristics from the network, there is also a need to establishpriorities and bandwidth allocation among multiple services and/orapplications so as to customize the content delivery according to theusers' and/or providers' preferences.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Some embodiments, of the present invention manage Quality of Service(QoS) in a communication network. A service provider requests a level ofQoS for communication in the communication network using a QoS request.The service provider may be, for example, an application serviceprovider or a network service provider. The requested level of QoS maybe allocated to the service provider based on the QoS request. Theservice provider may make the QoS request on its own initiative and/orin response to a request from an application that is hosted by theservice provider. A QoS level may then be allocated to the serviceprovider and/or to particular applications that are hosted by theservice provider.

The allocated QoS level may include allocating a network capacity level,a priority level, traffic profile, packet size, delay, and/or loss ratefor information that is communicated through the communication network.Communication with the service provider may then be restricted to anallocated network capacity level, prioritized with an allocated prioritylevel, modified to have an allocated traffic profile, and/or may have apacket size, delay, and/or loss rate that is based on the QoS request.

A network service manager, which may be a DSL service manager, mayevaluate the QoS that is available in the communication network, and mayallocate the requested level of QoS to the service provider based on theQoS request and the evaluation of the QoS available in the communicationnetwork. The network service manager may validate a QoS request by, forexample, comparing the QoS request to a DSL session data store. The DSLsession data store is explained below in, for example, Section 6.4.1.

A QoS request may-be communicated through the communication network as adata packet from the service provider. The QoS request may then beevaluated based on information in a known field in the data packet. Forexample, a QoS request may be evaluated based on a protocol ID, sourceaddress, destination address, source port number, and/or destinationport number that is provided in a header field of a data packet.Application identifier information may be added to a QoS request thatidentifies an application of the service provider. A QoS request maythen be evaluated based on the application identifier information, and alevel of QoS may be allocated to the application that is identified bythe application identifier information.

A broadband remote access server and/or a routing gateway may benotified of the allocated level of QoS.

Various other embodiments of the present invention provide acommunication system in which QoS in a communication network isallocated based on a requested level of QoS. The communication systemincludes a service provider, an application framework infrastructure, anaccess network, routing gateways, and a wide area network. The serviceprovider may be an application service provider or a network serviceprovider. The access network communicatively couples the serviceprovider and the application framework infrastructure. The wide areanetwork communicatively couples the application framework infrastructureand the routing gateways. The service provider requests a level of QoSfor communication in the wide area network using a QoS request.

The service provider may make the QoS request on its own initiativeand/or in response to a request from an application that is hosted bythe service provider. The application framework infrastructure mayallocate the requested level of QoS to the service provider based on theQoS request. The application framework infrastructure may also identifyat least one of routing gateways that communicates with the service,provider, and may notify the identified routing gateways of theallocated QoS. The application framework infrastructure may also notifya broadband remote access server of the allocated level of QoS.

Various other embodiments of the present invention provide computerproducts for managing QoS in a communication network.

Other systems, methods, and/or computer program products according toembodiments will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art uponreview of the following drawings and detailed description. It isintended that all such additional systems, methods, and/or computerprogram products be included within this description, be within thescope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanyingclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features of the present invention will be more readily understoodfrom the following detailed description of specific embodiments thereofwhen read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram that illustrates a conventional digitalsubscriber line (DSL) network;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram that illustrates communication between endusers and an application service provider (ASP) and a network serviceprovider (NSP) via a regional/access network;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram that illustrates the regional/access network;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram that illustrates a broadband remote accessserver (BRAS) and a routing gateway (RG) in a network;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram that illustrates access session types in thenetwork of FIG. 4 in accordance with some embodiments of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram that illustrates traffic classification andqueuing treatments in accordance with some embodiments of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 illustrates business model options for using bandwidth on acommunication medium in accordance with some embodiments of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram that illustrates relationships between asubscriber, the RG, the regional/access network, an ASP, and an NSP;

FIGS. 9-12 are block diagrams that illustrates a data architecture(model) for managing quality of service (QoS) in a network in accordancewith some embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram that illustrates an application-frameworkinfrastructure for managing QoS in a network in accordance with someembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 14 illustrates a messaging flow for a service providerauthentication scenario using the application framework infrastructureof FIG. 13 in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 15 illustrates a messaging flow for an application level bandwidthand QoS query scenario using the application framework infrastructure ofFIG. 13 in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 16 illustrates a messaging flow for an application level bandwidthand QoS modification scenario using the application frameworkinfrastructure of FIG. 13 in accordance with some embodiments of thepresent invention;

FIG. 17 illustrates a messaging flow for an application flow controlrecord creation scenario using the application framework infrastructureof FIG. 13 in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 18 illustrates a messaging flow for an application flow controlrecord deletion scenario using the application framework infrastructureof FIG. 13 in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 19 illustrates a messaging flow for a NSP Point-to-Point Protocol(PPP) session level bandwidth and QoS modification scenario using theapplication framework infrastructure of FIG. 13 in accordance with someembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 20 illustrates a messaging flow for a ASP/NSP PPP session levelbandwidth and QoS query scenario using the application frameworkinfrastructure of FIG. 13 in accordance with some embodiments of thepresent invention;

FIG. 21 is a block diagram that illustrates a turbo button architectureusing the application framework infrastructure of FIG. 13 in accordancewith some embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is an event diagram that illustrates operations of the turbobutton architecture of FIG. 21 in accordance with some embodiments ofthe present invention;

FIG. 23 is a block diagram that illustrates a video conferencingarchitecture using the application framework infrastructure of FIG. 13in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 24 and 25 are event diagrams that illustrate operations of thevideo conferencing architecture of FIG. 23 in accordance with someembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 26 is a block diagram that illustrates traffic classification andqueuing treatments for the video conferencing service in accordance withsome embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 27 is a block diagram that illustrates operations of a videoconferencing architecture in accordance with some embodiments of thepresent invention;

FIG. 28 is a diagram that illustrates network topologies for supportinggaming applications in accordance with some embodiments of the presentinvention;

FIG. 29 is a block diagram that illustrates a gaming architecture usingthe application framework infrastructure of FIG. 13 in accordance withsome embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 30 is a block diagram that illustrates traffic classification andqueuing treatments for the gaming service in accordance with someembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 31 is an event diagram that illustrates operations of the gamingarchitecture of FIG. 29 in accordance with some embodiments of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 32 is a flowchart that illustrates operations for managing QoS in acommunication network.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way ofexample in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. Itshould be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit theinvention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, theinvention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternativesfalling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by theclaims. Like reference numbers signify like elements throughout thedescription of the figures.

The present invention may be embodied as systems, methods, and/orcomputer program products. Accordingly, the present invention may beembodied in hardware and/or in software (including firmware, residentsoftware, micro-code, etc.). Furthermore, the present invention may takethe form of a computer program product on a computer-usable orcomputer-readable storage medium having computer-usable orcomputer-readable program code embodied in the medium for use by or inconnection with an instruction execution system. In the context of thisdocument, a computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be anymedium that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport theprogram for use by or in connection with the instruction executionsystem, apparatus, or device.

The computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be, for example butnot limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical,electromagnetic,--infrared; or semiconductor system, apparatus, device,or propagation medium. More specific examples (a nonexhaustive list) ofthe computer-readable medium would include the following: an electricalconnection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an-optical fiber,and a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM). Note that thecomputer-usable or computer-readable medium could even be paper oranother suitable medium upon which the program is printed, as theprogram can be electronically captured, via, for instance, opticalscanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled, interpreted, orotherwise processed in a suitable manner, if necessary, and then storedin a computer memory.

Embodiments of the present invention are described herein in the contextof digital subscriber line (DSL) technology for purposes ofillustration. It will be understood that the present invention is notlimited to DSL technology. Indeed, other communication technologiesand/or network configurations, such as, but not limited to, asynchronoustransfer mode (ATM), frame relay, hybrid fiber coax (HFC), wirelessbroadband, and/or Ethernet may also be used in other embodiments of thepresent invention. In general, the present invention is not limited toany communication technology and/or network configuration, but isintended to encompass any technology and/or network configurationcapable of carrying out operations described herein. Embodiments of thepresent invention are also described herein in the context of managingquality of service (QoS). As used herein, QoS includes, but is notlimited to, treatment applied to an access session, application flow,and/or packet with respect to scheduling a resource, bandwidthallocation, and/or delivery target in an individual element or across anend-to-end system.

The detailed description of embodiments of the present invention isorganized as follows:

-   -   1. Overview    -   2. Introduction        -   2.1 Purpose and Scope        -   2.2 Key Terms    -   3. Review of TR-059 Concepts        -   3.1 Network Service Provider Network            -   3.1.1 Description        -   3.2 Application Service Provider Network            -   3.2.1 Description            -   3.2.2 Capabilities        -   3.3 Regional Access Network            -   3.3.1 Broadband Remote Access Server            -   3.3.2 Access Network            -   3.3.3 Access Node        -   3.4 Evolution of the DSL Network            -   3.4.1 Access Session Types    -   4. QOS Capabilities of the Application Framework        -   4.1 General Approach        -   4.2 Classification        -   4.3 Business Models for Supporting Concurrent NSP and ASP            Access Sessions            -   4.3.1 Simple Bandwidth Partitioning            -   4.3.2 Priority and Dynamic Bandwidth Sharing        -   4.4 Considerations Associated with this Approach            -   4.4.1 Static Classifiers            -   4.4.2 Queue Structure    -   5. Reference Data Model        -   5.1 Subscriber Maintained Data        -   5.2 Routing Gateway        -   5.3 Regional/Access Network        -   5.4 Application Service Provider        -   5.5 Network Service Provider    -   6. Reference Interface Specification and Detailed Message Flow        -   6.1 Interface Between RG and Regional/Access Network        -   6.2 Interface Between Regional/Access Network and ASP        -   6.3 Interface Between Regional/Access Network and NSP        -   6.4 Application Framework Infrastructure            -   6.4.1 Framework Infrastructure Element Functional                Description            -   6.4.2 DSL Service Messaging Flow    -   7. Future Capabilities of the Application Framework    -   8. Example Use Scenario—Turbo Button    -   9. Example Use Scenario—Video Conferencing    -   10. Example Use Scenario—Gaming    -   11. Operational Description        1. Overview

This document defines a common application framework built on top of theDSL Forum-TR-059 reference architecture that can be used in a common wayto enable service providers to leverage bandwidth and QoS capabilitiesin the Regional/Access Network. This framework comprises an interfacespecification and associated data model and mechanisms to control theQoS and bandwidth capabilities defined in TR-059. A common interface forApplication Service Providers (ASPs) and Network Service Providers(NSPs) to leverage may reduce development costs and time to market. Thisinterface defines a mechanism for applications to request IP QoS andbandwidth from the DSL Regional/Access network.

2. Introduction

2.1 Purpose and Scope

Recent work in the DSL Forum has documented a reference architecture,DSL Evolution—Architecture Requirements for the Support of QoS-EnabledIP Services (TR-059), with the purpose of defining a common way ofsupporting enhanced IP applications by enabling IP QoS and bandwidthmanagement capabilities. TR-059 defines a common deploymentarchitecture, set of interface specifications, and fundamental networkelement requirements. The architecture and requirements are largely“transport or network” layer focused. It may be useful to complementthis work by defining a common higher-layer framework that leverages thecapabilities of TR-059 and that can be used by application serviceproviders (ASP) as they develop and deploy applications.

This document defines a common application framework built on top of theTR-059 reference architecture that can be used in a common way to enableservice providers to leverage bandwidth and QoS capabilities in theRegional/Access Network. This framework comprises an interfacespecification and associated data model and mechanisms to control theQoS and bandwidth capabilities defined in TR-059. A common interface forASPs and NSPs to leverage may reduce development costs and time tomarket. This interface defines a mechanism for applications to requestIP QoS and bandwidth from the DSL Regional/Access network.

Specifically, the application framework is based on the capabilitiesdefined in phase 2 of TR-059. Therefore, the framework defined hereassumes that the capabilities of the access node in the Regional/Accessnetwork will remain largely unchanged, but does leverage a policyapproach for provisioning the BRAS and Routing Gateway (RG) to manage IPflows appropriately. As real-time signaling capabilities becomeavailable this framework may be modified to support these capabilities.In defining the framework and providing details of its use, thisdocument also intends to demonstrate that capabilities defined (here andin TR-059) are sufficient to support a reasonable set of applications.

Services that span Regional/Access networks and requireinter-Regional/Access network communication are generally not describedherein as part of this framework. Support of these services is possibleif handled at the application layer where an ASP communicates to eachRegional/Access network to establish bandwidth and QoS for a service.

2.2 Key Terms

The following definitions apply for the purposes of this document:

Access Network The Access Network encompasses the elements of the DSLnetwork from the NID at the customer premises to the BRAS. This networktypically includes one or more Access Node type and often an ATMswitching function to aggregate them. Access Node The Access Nodecontains the ATU-C, which terminates the DSL signal, and physically canbe a DSLAM, Next Generation DLC (NG-DLC), or a Remote Access Multiplexer(RAM). A DSLAM hub can be used in a central office to aggregate trafficfrom multiple remote physical devices, and is considered logically to bea part of the Access Node. When the term “DSLAM” is used in thisdocument, it is intended to very specifically refer to a DSLAM, and notthe more generic Access Node. The Access Node provides aggregationcapabilities between the Access Network and the Regional Network. It isthe first point in the network where traffic on multiple DSL lines willbe aggregated onto a single network. Application Flow The set of packetsassociated with a particular application (e.g., video conferencingsession, VoIP call, etc.). Application A common reference data model andinterface Framework specification built on top of the TR-059 referencearchitecture that can be used in a common way to enable serviceproviders to leverage bandwidth and QoS capabilities in theRegional/Access Network. Auto Configuration A data repository thatallows the Regional/Access Server (ACS) network to provide configurationinformation to Routing Gateways (RG) in Customer Premises BroadbandRemote The BRAS is the aggregation point Access Server for thesubscriber traffic. It provides aggregation (BRAS) capabilities (e.g.,IP, PPP, ATM) between the Regional/Access Network and the NSP or ASP.Beyond aggregation, it is also the injection point for policy managementand IP QoS in the Regional/Access Networks. Core Network The center coreof the Regional Network. The functions contained herein are primarilytransport oriented with associated switching or routing capabilitiesenabling the proper distribution of the data traffic. Downstream Thedirection of transmission from the ATU-C (Access Node) to the ATU-R(modem). Edge Network The edge of the Regional Network. The Edge Networkprovides access to various layer 2 services and connects to the RegionalNetwork core enabling the distribution of the data traffic betweenvarious edge devices. Loop A metallic pair of wires running from thecustomer's premises to the Access Node. Many-to-Many The ability formultiple individual users or Access Sessions subscribers, within asingle premises, to simultaneously connect to multiple NSPs and ASPs.Regional Network The Regional Network interconnects the Network ServiceProvider's network and the Access Network. A Regional Network for DSLconnects to the BRAS, which is technically both in the Regional Networkand in an Access Network. Typically, more than one Access Network isconnected to a common Regional Network. The function of the RegionalNetwork in this document goes beyond traditional transport, and mayinclude aggregation, routing, and switching. Regional/Access TheRegional and Access Networks - grouped as Network and end-to-end QoSdomain and often managed by a single provider. The follow functionalelements are contained in this network: Access Node, BRAS, and the ACS.Routing Gateway A customer premises functional element that provides IProuting and QoS capabilities. It may be integrated with or be separatefrom the ATU-R. Rate Limit A means to limit the throughput of aparticular PPP session or application flow by either buffering (shaping)or dropping (policing) packets above a specified maximum data rate. Theterm bandwidth is used interchangeably with the concept of ratelimiting. The bandwidth allocated to a PPP session or application isdetermined by the rate limit applied. Session Session is typically anoverloaded term. In this document it is intended to reference a PPPaccess session rather than a particular application flow. SubscriberUsed to refer to the person that is billed for a service, like NSPaccess service or ASP services. The subscriber is considered the primaryuser of the service (see the definition of “user” below) and is the mainaccount contact. The subscriber to an NSP access is referred to as aNetwork Subscriber and the subscriber to an application is referred toas an Application Subscriber. Upstream The direction of transmissionfrom the ATU-R (modem) to the ATU-C (Access Node). User The person orentity that receives the benefit of a given service. The user may or maynot be the subscriber of the service. A subscribed service has one ormore users associated with the subscriber.3. Review of TR-059 Concepts

To provide a common reference for the application framework, anarchitectural view of the DSL network is provided. The text in thissection is taken from TR-059 and provides a high level overview. For amore complete description refer to TR-059. FIG. 1 illustrates thecurrent state of deployed DSL networks. Boxes in the figures representfunctional entities—networks and logical components rather than physicalelements.

This traditional architecture is centered on providing service to a lineor a loop. It is desired, however, to be able to provide services thatare user-specific. Additionally, more than one subscriber can be presentat the same premises and share a single loop. TR-059 describes aslightly more complex situation, and hides the common complexity sharedwith FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 illustrates the components of a DSL access-based broadbandnetwork. FIG. 2 indicates ownership of the components by differentproviding organizations. Boxes in the figures represent functionalentities—networks and logical components rather than physical elements.

This model illustrates an architecture that provides services that areuser-specific, i.e., more than one subscriber can be present at the samepremises and share a single loop. Note that FIG. 2 shows many-to-manyaccess through a common Regional/Access network. It is used tosimultaneously provide an Application Service, between an ASP Network₁and User₁ at the same time and over the same U interface as it supportsa Network Service₂ between NSP Network₂ and User₂.

3.1 Network Service Provider Network

3.1.1 Description

The Network Service Provider (NSP) is defined as a Service Provider thatrequires extending a Service Provider-specific Internet Protocol (IP)address. This is the typical application of DSL service today. The NSPowns and procures addresses that they, in turn, allocate individually orin blocks to their subscribers. The subscribers are typically located inCustomer Premises Networks (CPNs). The NSP service may besubscriber-specific, or communal when an address is shared using NetworkAddress Port Translation (NAPT) throughout a CPN. This relationshipamong the NSP, A10-NSP interface, and Regional/Access Network is shownin FIG. 2. NSPs typically provide access to the Internet, but may alsoprovide access to a walled garden, VPN, or some other closed group orcontrolled access network. L2TP and IP VPNs are typical A10-NSPinterface arrangements.

The capabilities of the NSP may include, but are not limited to, forexample: authenticating network access between the CPN and the NSPnetwork; assignment of network addresses and IP filters; assignment oftraffic engineering parameters; and/or customer service andtroubleshooting of network access problems

3.2 Application Service Provider Network

3.2.1 Description

The Application Service Provider (ASP) is defined as a Service Providerthat uses a common network infrastructure provided by theRegional/Access Network and an IP address assigned and managed by theRegional Network Provider. This is a new type of DSL service. TheRegional Network Provider owns and procures addresses that they, inturn, allocate to the subscribers. ASPs then use this commoninfrastructure to provide application or network services to thosesubscribers. For example, an ASP may offer gaming, Video on Demand, oraccess to VPNs via IPsec or some other IP-tunneling method. The ASPservice may be subscriber-specific, or communal when an address isshared using NAPT throughout a Customer Premises Network (CPN). It isenvisioned that the ASP environment will have user-level rather thannetwork-access-level identification, and that a common LightweightDirectory Access Protocol (LDAP) directory will assist in providing useridentification and preferences. Logical elements used by ASPs typicallyinclude routers, application servers, and directory servers. Therelationship between the ASP Network, the A10-ASP interface, and theRegional Network is shown in FIG. 2.

3.2.2 Capabilities

The capabilities of the ASP may include, but are not limited to, forexample: authenticating users at the CPN; assignment of QoS to servicetraffic; customer service and troubleshooting of network access andapplication-specific problems; and/or ability to determine traffic usagefor accounting purposes and billing.

3.3 Regional Access Network

The Regional/Access Network comprises the Regional Network, BroadbandRemote Access Server, and the Access Network as shown in FIG. 3. Itsprimary function is to provide end-to-end data transport between thecustomer premises and the NSP or ASP. The Regional/Access Network mayalso provide higher layer functions, such as QoS and contentdistribution. QoS may be provided by tightly couplingtraffic-engineering capabilities of the Regional Network with thecapabilities of the BRAS.

3.3.1 Broadband Remote Access Server

The BRAS performs multiple functions in the network. Its most basicfunction is to provide aggregation capabilities between theRegional/Access Network and the NSP/ASP. For aggregating traffic, theBRAS serves as a L2TP Access Concentrator (LAC), tunneling multiplesubscriber Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) sessions directly to an NSP orswitched through a L2TS. It also performs aggregation for terminated PPPsessions or routed IP session by placing them into IP VPNs. The BRASalso supports ATM termination and aggregation functions.

Beyond aggregation, the BRAS is also the injection point for providingpolicy management and IP QoS in the Regional and Access Networks. TheBRAS supports the concept of many-to-many access sessions. Policyinformation can be applied to terminated and non-terminated sessions.For example, a bandwidth policy may be applied to a subscriber whosePoint-to-Point (PPP) session is aggregated into an L2TP tunnel and isnot terminated by the BRAS. Sessions that terminate on (or are routedthrough) the BRAS, however, can receive per flow treatment because theBRAS has IP level awareness of the session. In this model, both theaggregate bandwidth for a customer as well as the bandwidth andtreatment of traffic per-application can be controlled.

3.3.2 Access Network

The Access Network refers to the network between the ATU-R and the BRASincluding the access node and any intervening ATM switches.

3.3.3 Access Node

The Access Node provides aggregation capabilities between the AccessNetwork and the Regional Network. It is the first point in the networkwhere traffic on multiple DSL lines will be aggregated onto a-singlenetwork. Traditionally the Access Node has been primarily an ATMconcentrator, mapping PVCs from the ATU-R to PVCs in the ATM core. Ithas also shaped and policed traffic to the service access rates.

As described in TR-059, the responsibility of policing ATU-R to ATU-CPVCs to the subscribed line rate is moved from the Access Node to theBRAS to establish additional bandwidth on the DSL line for additionalservices. The Access Node sets the line rate for each PVC at the synchrate (or slightly less) of the ATU-R and ATU-C. This will make themaximum amount of subscriber bandwidth available for services. The BRASpolices individual sessions/flows as required to their required ratesand also performs the dynamic changes when bandwidth-on-demand servicesare applied.

3.4 Evolution of the DSL Network

Phases 1 and 2 of TR-059 introduce the capability to change theRegional/Access network from an IP unaware layer 2 network to a networkthat leverages IP awareness in key elements to enable IP QoS and moreefficient and effective use of bandwidth. These key IP aware elementsare the BRAS and the RG as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 represents a paradigm shift in that the BRAS and the RG are nowresponsible for managing the traffic flow through the network. Byenabling these devices to accept policy rules at subscriber session andapplication levels, IP flows can be managed in a more flexible and“dynamic” manner than previously possible. The BRAS is responsible formanaging IP traffic in the downstream direction such that traffic isscheduled according to priority and in a way that ensures thatcongestion in the downstream network is reduced (i.e., hierarchicalscheduling). The RG similarly, manages the scheduling of traffic in theupstream direction based on the priority of the session and/orapplication. Given-that the RG cannot be trusted, the BRAS performs apolicing function to ensure the upstream bandwidth in the access networkis utilized appropriately. Note that the priority and bandwidth policiescan be applied at the PPP session and or application levels; therefore,there is flexibility in how traffic is treated in the network.

3.4.1 Access Session Types

The architecture also evolves the types aid number of access sessions(specifically PPP sessions) that a subscriber would typically establishto a service provider. Where previously there had been just one accesssession to an ISP, there are now multiple access sessions with threebasic types:

Community NSP—Shown in FIG. 5 as the solid line between the RG and NSP₁,this type of access session is established between an RG and an NSP. Itis called the Community NSP connection because all the devices withinthe Customer Premises Network share the connection to the NSP using theNetwork Port Address Translation (NPAT) feature of the RG. Because theCommunity NSP connection is given the Default Route at the RG there cantypically be only one. This connection is typically set up to an ISP toprovide Internet access to all the devices in the Customer PremisesNetwork. This PPP session may terminate on the BRAS or may pass throughthe BRAS in tact and be placed into a L2TP tunnel to the NSP.

Personal NSP—Shown in FIG. 5 as the dashed line between User₁ and NSP₂,this type of access session is established between a device within theCustomer Premises Network and an NSP. It passes through the RG at theEthernet (PPPoE) level. It is called the Personal NSP connection becauseonly the device within the Customer Premises Network from which theconnection was established can access the NSP. This connection may avoidusing the NPAT feature of the RG. This connection is typically set up toan ISP or a corporation to provide private or personalized access, orany access that cannot traverse the NPAT sharing mechanism at the RG.This PPP session may terminate on the BRAS or may pass through the BRASin tact and be placed into a L2TP tunnel to the NSP.

ASP—Shown in FIG. 5 as the dotted line between the RG and ASP₁, thistype of access session is established between an RG and the ASP network.It is typically a single connection that is shared by all the-ASPs.Because the Community NSP connection is typically given the DefaultRoute at the RG, the ASP connection must provide the RG with a list ofroutes to the ASP network. Also because there is not a default route tothe ASP network, it may not be possible to provide typical Internetaccess through the ASP connection. This connection is typically set upto the ASP network to provide application-specific and QoS-enabledaccess among all the applications in the ASP network and all the devicesin the Customer Premises, Network. This PPP session type may terminateon the BRAS so that per application flow treatment can be applied.

4. QOS Capabilities of the Application Framework

4.1 General Approach

TR-059 describes a hierarchical scheduling approach leveraged by theBRAS to manage the downstream links between the BRAS and the RG.Similarly, it describes how the BRAS leverages policing techniques(including a random discard enhancement) to apply backpressure to theupstream source to minimize potential congestion in that direction. Theapplication framework provides a mechanism for service providers tomodify bandwidth and QoS. In particular embodiments of the presentinvention, to simplify the number of queues to be managed in the BRASand RG, this framework assumes that only the ASP session has the abilityto support per application flow treatment. In such embodiments, NSPaccess sessions can only be managed in terms of the aggregate bandwidthand priority with respect to other access sessions on the DSL line.Because many ASPs share the ASP access session, the bandwidth andpriority of the session is set by the Regional/Access provider andtypically cannot be modified by an ASP. The ASP can however modify thecharacteristics of specific applications within the ASP PPP session byassigning the application to a particular queue and treatment type. TheBRAS and RG may schedule or police packets-based on one or more of thefollowing parameters: the priority of the access session; the currentpacket's relation to the rate limit of the access session; the priorityof the application within the access session (only supported for the ASPPPP Session); and/or the current packet's relation to the rate limit ofthe application or queue, for example, an EF rate limit supported forthe ASP PPP session.

Network resources are typically not reserved in this model. Instead,traffic engineering policies and intelligent scheduling and policing ofpackets is leveraged to achieve aggregate QoS characteristics.Similarly, the Differentiated Services (Diffserv) model is leveraged asa way to classify, mark, and schedule packets. The QoS approach that hasbeen applied to the application framework assumes that thesecapabilities are in place and that QoS relationships can be viewedwithin a single subscribers DSL “connection” (ATM VC) between the BRASand the RG.

Further, if a pragmatic approach to providing QoS is taken, someadditional simplifying assumptions can be made. It is expected thatinitially there will only be a small number of applications requiringQoS. The expected applications include VoIP, video conferencing, videoon demand, and gaming. It is unlikely that the majority of DSL customerswill subscribe to all of these services and expect to use themsimultaneously. Rather, it is expected that only a small number ofapplications (e.g., 2 or 3) will need to be managed concurrently on aDSL line basis. The expected applications also imply a certain priorityrelationship among themselves. If while playing an Internet game a VoIPcall comes in, it may be generally agreed that the VoIP session shouldtake precedence over the gaming session (if finishing the game is moreimportant, then the user can choose not to answer the call). As long asthese assumptions hold true, then a small number of applications can bemanaged effectively with a small number of queues and a simple priorityarrangement among them. As the number of applications requiring QoSincreases, however, these assumptions may have to change and the QoSapproach may need to evolve to support a finer granularity.

The number of queues available for applications within the ASP PPPsession is five, in accordance with some embodiments of the presentinvention. This may change over time, in accordance with otherembodiments of the present invention, but initially the number of queuesis likely to be small. Diffserv like treatment is assumed whendescribing the queue behaviors and can be classified as one expeditedforwarding (EF) queue, up to 3 assured forwarding (AF) queues or onebest effort (BE) queue. The EF queue typically receives the highestpriority and is typically served first. This queue type is defined forconstant bit rate type servers. A rate limit associated with this queueis put in place so it should not be able to consume all the DSL lineresources. This queue will likely be reserved for voice applications. AFqueues are defined for traffic that is more variable in nature and wouldbe inefficient to associate with a fixed amount of network resources(EF). Queues in this category could receive different levels of priorityor could simply be used as an aggregate priority but each queue may havea different rate limit applied depending on the requirements of theapplication using that queue. To simplify the approach, the frameworkinitially assumes the later case where AF queue receive a “medium”priority treatment and the different queues are used to providedifferent bandwidth needs (i.e. rate limits). A BE queue is the defaultqueue and has resources available to it only after packets that are inprofile for the EF and AF queue are served.

The approach to establishing QoS and bandwidth requirements in thenetwork is one of provisioning rather than signaling. The BRAS and RGwill be provisioned with the classifiers to identify flows and queuethem appropriately. As a result the services that this model supportsare services that fit more into a subscription model rather than aninstantaneous establishment of service and QoS. This potentialdisadvantage, however, does not have to be apparent to the end users.Many services may require that the customer establish an account andperhaps even require the shipment of special hardware or software, forexample, VoIP Phone, PC camera, and the like. During the time frame thatthe customer is establishing service with the ASP, the DSL network canbe provisioned to support the service. It is important to note that theprovisioning time lines are not expected to be in terms of days, but,could be as small as a few minutes depending on how the applicationframework is implemented.

Given that a signaled approach to QoS is not included in the frameworkof certain embodiments of the present invention, real-time admissioncontrol cannot be accomplished at the network layer in such embodiments.While it could be possible to block the subscription of a new servicebased on the current, subscribed services, such a model may be toorestrictive because it does not allow the user to subscribe to twoapplications that they would not intend on using simultaneously.Instead, a strict priority relationship among the applications flows isused to manage simultaneous application interactions. Rate limits arealso applied at the RG and BRAS so that no single application canconsume all the subscriber's DSL resources and to provide some level offairness. An example application relationship, in accordance with someembodiments of the present invention, is shown in FIG. 6 and Table 1. Inthis example, it is assumed that the NSP and PNSP sessions receive besteffort treatment with respect to traffic that is in profile for the EFand AF queues in the ASP session. Other business models are possible asdescribed in Section 4.3.

TABLE 1 Example Application Priority Relationship within the ASP SessionRate Classification Application Queue Limit of the Queue Parameters VoIPSignaling High Priority 100 Kbps SIP Proxy IP Address & SIP Bearer HighPriority 100 Kbps Gateway IP Address & RTP Video Conf Control StreamHigh Priority 100 Kbps SIP Proxy IP Address & SIP Audio/Voice HighPriority 100 Kbps DSCP & MCU IP Address & RTP Video Medium Priority 384Kbps DSCP & MCU IP Address & RTP Gaming Medium Priority 100k GamingServer IP Address HTTP Low Priority None Default

FIG. 6 illustrates a queuing arrangement where there are five queues(EF, AF₁, AF₂, AF₃, and BE) within the ASP session for per applicationtreatment. In this arrangement, these queues can be characterized ashigh (EF), medium (AFs), and low priority (BE) treatment. Table 1illustrates that voice will receive strict priority over otherapplications. Rate limits can be applied to each of the applications toensure that a single application cannot starve out all otherapplications, but this requires dedicating a queue to each rate-limitedapplication. Priority alone may not resolve all of the possibleapplication interactions. In the example above, both the gaming andvideo conferencing video stream have the same priority. In the case thatboth applications are active they would compete over the first 100 k ofbandwidth available to the medium priority class. The rate limitassociated with the AF₂ queue allows the video conferencing applicationto take precedence over the remaining resources up to its queue's ratelimit. If the user experience for either the video stream or the game isunacceptable, the user will have to make their own admission controldecision and pause or shut down the one they wish to have lowerpriority.

4.2 Classification

There are two basic levels of classification that need to be applied inthe framework: The first level is at the-PPP session level.Classification at this layer is accomplished through inspection of theFully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) used when the PPP session isinitiated. The second level is at the application layer—according toflows. To provide an application flow with the proper schedulingtreatment, it is desirable to easily classify the flow. Classificationof application flow may be accomplished using the header fields of theIP or Ethernet Packet (e.g., IP 5 tuple, DSCP, 802.1p). Using theinterface specified in Section 6, ASPs may communicate theclassification information that is used in the BRAS and RG. This sameinterface may be-used to communicate the priority and desired bandwidth(rate limit) to be associated with the classifier. In certainembodiments of the present invention, this information is communicatedat subscription time, and is not intended to be established dynamicallyon a per-flow basis. As a result in such embodiments, the classificationinformation is expected to be static. The ASP may provide a well knownIP address, protocol, and/or Port to be used for classificationpurposes.

In particular embodiments of the present invention, within the customerpremises network (CPN), the CPE will be assigned private IP addressesfrom the RG. When traffic leaves the CPN, the RG will perform NPATenabling public routing of the packets. The use of private addressespresents two issues: Given that the CPE behind the RG will be usingdynamic private addresses, they cannot be used as part of theclassification parameters. Secondly, many applications require signalingmessages to convey dynamic IP addresses and port numbers of mediareceivers in their payloads. Existing static IP/transport layer policiesmay not be adequate in supporting session endpoints separated by NAT andfirewall entities. Therefore, Application Layer Gateway (ALG)capabilities may be required at the RG for opening and closing pinholesin the firewalls and maintaining the proper address translations fordynamically created ports associated with flows created by sessionendpoints. Some considerations with regard to ALG capabilities arediscussed in the next sections.

The BRAS can associate the IP address or ATM PVC of the RG with asubscriber and then use the ASP's address to match the source ordestination address of the packets to properly classify the flow. At thecustomer premises, the RG can match the ASP's address as the means ofclassifying the flow. Therefore, only the ASPs IP address (and possiblyport and protocol identifier) may be required for the bi-directionalflow to be classified correctly.

Certain types of applications may require additional information tocapture the flow. For these types of applications, the endpoints mayneed to provide additional classification information in the IP packetheader by marking the diffserv code point. The use of diffserv codepoints (DSCP) may be standardized which may allow the application tointelligently mark packets based on the expected treatment in thenetwork. DSCPs assigned by an untrusted entity can only be used aftersome edge device has performed a check on the classification of thepacket to ensure that it was marked correctly. The RG may not beconsidered a trusted element and, therefore, the BRAS may need to policeany classification performed by the RG—rather than simply accepting theDSCP that was provided. Depending on the relationship to the ASP, theRegional/Access network may be able to trust packets marked by the ASP.If the ASP is not trusted, either the BRAS or some other edge device mayneed to police the DSCPs.

4.3 Business Models for Supporting Concurrent NSP and ASP AccessSessions

FIG. 7 illustrates several bandwidth relationships that can exist on anADSL access loop. In FIG. 7, the outer circle represents the totalbandwidth that is available within a virtual circuit on an ADSL lineafter the modems have been allowed to sync to a higher rate than isconventional. Within this total bandwidth there are two access sessionsshown: an ASP Access Session and a NSP Access Session. The NSP AccessSession, shown in light horizontal stripes, occupies a smaller spacethan the whole Virtual Circuit. This indicates that the NSP accesssession is not allowed to access the total bandwidth on the VirtualCircuit. Conventionally, the NSP Session and the Virtual Circuit wouldhave been the same bandwidth. By increasing the sync rate on the DSLmodems, additional bandwidth is created that exceeds that which the NSPhas purchased.

The ASP access session has essentially the same set of bandwidth as theVirtual Circuit. This would indicate that some set of conditions existwhere the ASP session could occupy all the bandwidth on the ADSL line.Several Applications are shown overlaid on the sessions and within thebandwidth limits assigned to the NSP and ASP. The NSP application (darkhorizontal stripes) is a strict sub-set of the NSP Session and is usinga large fraction of the NSPs allowed bandwidth. The three otherapplications, however, show three salient relationships and businessmodels that can exist between applications in the ASP network and bothapplications as well as the access session for the NSP. Theserelationships will be described in the sections that follow.

4.3.1 Simple Bandwidth Partitioning

The first example is the Headroom Application and is shown in verticalstripes. This application is allowed to make use of only that bandwidththat the NSP could never access. In this type of model, a NSP isprovided a dedicated amount of bandwidth on the access loop—even ifthere is not dedicated bandwidth through the access network. In such anarrangement, ASP applications (or additional NSP access sessions) wouldonly receive bandwidth to which the modems could sync that was over andabove the rate sold to the NSP. In this arrangement, if the sync ratewere at or below the rate sold to the NSP, no additional applications oraccess sessions could be provided. This arrangement may be unnecessarilyrestrictive and may be difficult to implement.

The second example is the Sharing Application (shown checkered). Thisapplication has access to all the bandwidth described by the headroomapplication, but also has access to additional bandwidth sold to theNSP, but not currently in use by applications in the NSP Session. ASharing application can make use of all the bandwidth on the VC, but canonly use the “NSP” bandwidth when the NSP session is not using it.Unlike the previous model, this application can receive bandwidth evenwhen the sync rate is at or below the rate sold to the NSP. If the NSPapplications are making use of all their bandwidth, however, then theresult is similar to the arrangement described in the Headroomapplication. This arrangement could be described as work conserving, andmay be used for simple bandwidth partitioning.

4.3.2 Priority and Dynamic Bandwidth Sharing

The third example is the Competing Application (shown in transparentgray). In this example, the application may have access to some or allof the bandwidth used by the NSP and it may have access to thatbandwidth with greater, equal, or lesser precedence than the NSPapplications. Similarly, this application may also be able to pre-emptbandwidth that other ASP applications are attempting to use. This is themost complex arrangement, and the most flexible. A competing applicationcan compete for the bandwidth that NSP applications are attempting touse. Several cases of competing applications exist:

-   -   1. The first case is when a competing application has the same        precedence as that of the NSP application(s). In this case,        bandwidth is shared fairly according to a typical algorithm,        like round-robin, or Weighted Fair Queuing (WFQ). Also,        inter-application congestion avoidance mechanisms, like those        that are part of TCP can decide how applications would share        bandwidth in this case.    -   2. A second case is when a competing application has greater        precedence than that of the NSP application(s). In this case,        bandwidth is given to the competing application in strict        priority—only “left-over” bandwidth is provided to the other        applications. This is the highest QoS level, and may be provided        with an upper bound on-the bandwidth that the application can        obtain, i.e., a rate limit. If the application exceeds the upper        bound, its traffic will be dropped. This case is the most        applicable to a VoIP application because it provides very low        latency and because VoIP is not bursty to the point that the        rate limit would be exceeded.    -   3. A third case is when a competing application has a        combination of higher precedence and equal precedence. A rate,        such as a committed information rate (CIR), is set and the        application gets the same treatment as described in case 2 up to        that rate. If the application bursts above CIR, then that        traffic which bursts is treated differently; it must compete:        with the other-applications as described in case 1.    -   4. A fourth case is when a competing application has a        combination of higher precedence and lower precedence. A rate,        such as a: CIR, is set and the application gets the same        treatment as described in case 2 up to that rate. If the        application bursts above CIR, then that traffic which bursts is        treated differently; it is treated like a sharing        application—only receiving the leftover bandwidth that the NSP        application does not use.    -   5. A fifth case is when a competing application has a        combination of higher precedence, equal precedence and a strict        rate limit. A rate, such as a CIR, and a second, higher rate,        Peak information Rate (PIR), is set. The application gets the        same treatment as described in case 3 up to the PIR rate. If the        application bursts above PIR, then that traffic will be dropped.    -   6. Finally, there is a case when a competing application has a        combination of higher precedence, equal precedence and lower        precedence. As in case 5, a rate, such as a CIR, and a second,        higher rate, such as a PIR, is set. The application gets the        same treatment as described in case 3 up to the PIR rate.        However, if the application exceeds the PIR, then that traffic        is treated like a sharing application—only receiving the        bandwidth that the NSP does not use. These treatments can also        be provided among ASP applications and with finer granularity        among multiple applications.

4.4 Considerations Associated with this Approach

4.4.1 Static Classifiers

The following issues may be considered when using static classifiers:

-   -   1. There can only be one class of treatment per application.        There is no sense of individual users within the residence using        the same service, but desiring different levels of service.    -   2. Dynamic, commutative peer-to-peer applications cannot be        easily captured.    -   3. Applications with multiple flows between the same        destinations cannot be easily differentiated.

For applications like VoIP and video conferencing where the end pointsof a call may not be known a-priori, it is difficult to use a staticclassification scheme.

Below are several approaches to resolve these issues:

-   -   a. Force the application to some well-known IP address that can        be used for classification purposes. This is true of a        multipoint videoconference service that leverages a centralized        (ASP provided) MCU or a VoIP call that is destined for a PSTN        gateway or conference bridge. In both these cases, a static        classifier can be used. This same approach could be leveraged        for on-net or point-to-point video calls. These calls could be        routed to utilize an MCU, conference bridge, or PSTN gateway        even though they are not required for any other reason other        than classification. There are vendors in the marketplace that        have developed proxy devices for this purpose. This may be less        resource efficient, however, than allowing the calls to flow        point-to-point.    -   b. Classify based on protocol used. For example, classification        based on the use of RTP could be used. Basing the classification        on protocol alone, however, would enable other applications that        use that same protocol to take advantage of QoS in the network        without having to pay for it. Additionally, differentiation        between application flows that use the same protocol may not be        achieved (e.g., voice and video using RTP).    -   c. Rely on the CPE to mark packets. In this case the IP phone or        video conference application emits packets marked with the        proper diffserv code point so that the RG and BRAS can classify        based on that marking. Any application choosing to mark their        traffic, however, would be able to take advantage of QoS in the        network without having to pay for it.    -   d. QoS aware Application Layer Gateway (ALG). Similar to the way        ALGs have been developed for allowing signals to traverse NPAT        and firewalls by inspecting signaling messages, a QoS ALG may be        created to inspect the signaling packets for SDP messages and to        dynamically create classifiers during call setup. Given that        initial signaling may be destined for a well known address, (SIP        proxy) the ALG can be statically configured to treat all RTP        flows set up using a given SIP proxy—regardless of the actual        communicating peers. As the ALG inspects the packets to modify        the RG's firewall rules, it can also be used to modify the RG's        classification rules. This type of approach could be leveraged        at the RG, where the number of sessions is small, but may        present scaling issues if implemented in the BRAS.    -   e. Establish the classification information at call set up. This        may require complex real time signaling mechanisms to be in        place in the network to modify classifiers at call establishment        and teardown.

Until a signaling approach is available, using an approach similar tothat-described in (a) appears to be the most reasonable from atechnology and service offering perspective. A video-conferencing ASPthat does not provide centralized Media Control Unit (MCU) capabilitiesmay only add limited value above that which is already available in themarket. In the near term, most VoIP calls will likely be destined forPSTN gateways, and this arrangement provides a simple way to classify.

Differentiating applications with multiple flows between the samedestinations, is typically seen within (but is not limited to)commutative services, like video conferencing. These applicationstypically have multiple flows (control/signaling, audio, and video)associated with a single application, and there may be a desire to treatthem differently. As long as they use different well-known IP addressesor protocol types, then a static classifier can be used. Unfortunately,when the same protocol type is used (e.g., RTP for both audio and video)then there may not be a way to differentiate those streams if they areboth destined for the same IP interface (e.g., MCU). Below are threeapproaches to resolve this issue:

-   -   a. Require applications to use separate IP interfaces that        expect differentiated treatment. An MCU, for example, could        define one IP interface for video and another for audio. This        would enable separate classification in the upstream and        downstream direction in the RG and BRAS. Depending on the        direction of the flow, either the source or destination can be        used to match to the ASPs IP interfaces.    -   b. Rely on the application to mark packets. In this case, the        videoconference application emits packets marked to the proper        diffserv code point so that the RG and BRAS could classify based        on that marking. As long as the packets are being transmitted to        a well-known address, the classifier can use the combination of        the DSCP and the destination IP. Given that there is a fixed IP        address, no other applications would be able to utilize the QoS        intended for this application.    -   c. Rely on knowledge of the actual RTP ports used by each of the        flows to enable different treatments. This can be accomplished        by statically assigning ports using a QoS ALG function as        described above, or through the use of a signaling protocol.

4.4.2 Queue Structure

As the number of applications requiring QoS increases, so does thecomplexity of managing them in the access network. Over time, as moreand more ASPs deploy applications requiring QoS and bandwidthmanagement, the likelihood that multiple applications will be runningsimultaneously within the CPN may increase. The complexity of managingthese applications in a small number of queues with only three levels ofprecedence may become increasingly difficult given that there may nolonger be a well-defined priority relationship among them. One approachwould be to increase the number of queue types and behaviors. Diffservdefines four assured forwarding (AF) classes each with three levels ofdrop precedence. The addition of multiple AF classes to a strictpriority class (EF) and a low priority class (BE) already defined in theapplication framework can provide more granularity in queue andapplication behavior. It is unlikely, however, that the number of queuescan be scaled with the number of applications available.

While a limited number of additional queues may be available, theirexpected behavior may become increasingly complex to describe.Unfortunately, to make use of these additional behaviors, applicationsmust be able to define their requirements in a way that fits into thismodel. This becomes a challenge for two reasons: First, manyapplications do not understand that level of granularity andparticularly will not understand what other applications will be vyingfor the DSL line resources. Secondly, describing the inter-queue orinter-application behavior to ASPs so they can make use of thesecapabilities becomes more difficult as the number of queues increaseswithout strictly defining the amount of resources reserved per queue.This difficulty is in part the result of how diffserv was designed.Diffserv was not defined with the intent of managing per applicationflow behavior. Rather, it was defined to manage aggregate flow behaviorsin the core of the network. As the number of simultaneous applicationsincreases in the CPN and access network, the use of diffserv withoutresource reservation breaks down.

Leveraging a resource reservation approach can provide a mechanism formanaging increasing numbers of applications. The reservation scheme neednot necessarily require signaling. At subscription, time applicationscould reserve specific queues and could provide an intermediatesolution. Longer term, as the number of applications continues to grow,a more dynamic reservation of resources will be required. In the dynamiccase, applications may be able to reserve specific queues for theduration of the application flow, which will be released when they aredone. In doing so, admission control to the DSL resources can beprovided in a way that the applications behavior can be moreclearly-described. Use of Resource Reservation Protocol (RSVP) wouldprovide an example of the former case. While having been defined forsome time, actual RSVP implementations are elusive due to its generalcomplexity and scaling limitations., -Admission control provides one wayto provide an application dedicated resources or to provide anindication when resources are not available. While conceptuallyattractive, it remains unclear if the complexity of such an approach isfeasible.

5. Reference Data Model

In this section a description of the data required in each of thefunctional domains of the architecture (Regional/Access Network, RG,ASP, NSP, and subscriber) is presented. FIG. 8 illustrates a high levelrepresentation of the relationships between the different domains inaccordance with some embodiments of the present invention. Based on thisabstract view of the domains involved in providing an end-to-endservice, a data model can be constructed.

Dotted lines 1 and 2 illustrated in FIG. 8 indicate that information isexchanged between the modules not specifically discussed with respect tothe interface reference model. The dashed lines illustrated in FIG. 8indicate a physical connection and the solid lines illustrated in FIG. 8indicate that information is exchanged within the scope of the interfacereference model. In particular, lines 1 and 2 illustrate exchangesbetween the subscriber and the NSP and ASP, respectively, when thesubscriber, for example, signs up for service. Line 3 illustrates theconfiguration of the RG by the Regional/Access Network. It will beunderstood that this may only be for the initial install. The ACSlocated with in the Regional/Access Network may handle all subsequentconfiguration changes. Line 4 illustrates the initiation of accesssessions that are terminated in the DSL network. The ACS located with inthe Regional/Access Network may communicate with the RG forconfiguration updates. Finally, lines 5 and 6 of FIG. 8 illustratecommunication between the NSP/ASP and the DSL network that establishes aDSL connection. The ASP and NSP may also communicate bandwidth and QoSchanges per session or application.

FIG. 9 depicts a UML model capturing the type of data used to supportbandwidth and QoS management in accordance with some embodiments of thepresent invention. This model is provided for illustration purposes onlyand is not intended to represent a complete deployment implementation,which may use a wider scope of information beyond bandwidth and QoS.FIGS. 10 through 12 provide : additional details within the maindomains, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention,and are described below. The remainder of this section provides adetailed description of the data records and attributes captured in thepresented UML model.

5.1 Subscriber Maintained Data

The following data elements-are maintained at Subscriber Premises (thisrecord is maintained by the subscriber—it could be stored on a PC or anyother storage device/media) in accordance with some embodiments of thepresent invention:

Record Type Elements Description Source NSPSubscriber The subscribersneed to know their PPP Session DSL_line_ID, NSPSubscriber_ID and RecordNSPSubscriber_Password for accessing their 970 NSP networks. Only asingle NSP PPP session record can exist. DSL_Line_ID DSL_Line_ID is aunique identifier for the DSL DSL_Line_ID is provided line. Currentlythe TN is used as such an by the Regional/Access identifier. NetworkProvider at subscription time. NSPSubscriber_ID This ID is used foraccessing the NSP networks. Assigned by the NSP at the time ofsubscription NSPSubscriber_(—) Subscriber_Password is initially set bythe NSP, Initially assigned by the Password later it can be changed bythe Subscriber. It is NSP at subscription time. used together with theNSPSubscriber_ID to Can be changed by the access the NSP networks.subscriber. Personal The subscribers need to know their NSPSubscriberDSL_line_ID, PersonalNSPSubscriber_ID and PPP Session PersonalNSPSubscriber_Password for accessing Record their Personal NSP network.Multiple records 974 can exist. DSL_Line_ID As defined above As definedabove PersonalNSP This ID is used for accessing the Personal NSPAssigned by the Personal Subscriber_ID networks. NSP at the time ofsubscription. PersonalNSPSubscriber_(—) It is used together with theInitially assigned by the Password PersonalNSPSubscriber_ID to accessthe PNSP PNSP at the time of networks. subscription. Can be changed bythe subscriber. ASPSubscriber The subscribers need to know their PPPSession DSL_line_ID, ASPSubscriber_ID and Record ASPSubscriber_Passwordfor accessing their 972 ASP services. For each application theysubscribe to, they need to maintain their User_ID and Password. Only oneASP PPP session record can exist. DSL_Line_ID As defined above Asdefined above ASPSubscriber_ID This ID is used for accessing the ASPnetworks. Provided by ASP at the time of subscription ASPSubscriber_(—)It is used together with the ASPSubscriber_ID to Initially assigned byASP Password access the ASP networks. at the time of subscription. Canbe changed by the subscriber. User Account This record is maintained byuser/users of Created at the time of Record services provided over theRegional/Access subscription to ASP 976, 978, 980 Network. A useraccount is tied to a subscriber services account. Multiple user accountscan be associated with a single subscriber account. Note: There is oneor multiple User Account Record under each of the NSPSubscriber PPPSession Record, Personal NSPSubscriber PPP Session Record, andASPSubscriber PPP Session Record. User_ID This ID is used for accessingthe given service. Assigned by a given ASP to a particular user at thetime subscription User_Password It is used together with the User_ID toaccess a Initially assigned by a given service, given ASP to aparticular user at the time of subscription. Can be changed by thesubscriber.

5.2 Routing Gateway

Routing Gateway is a customer premises functional element that providesIP routing and QoS capabilities. The main functions of the RG mayinclude one or more of: IP routing between the CPN and the AccessNetwork; multi-user, multi-destination support (Multiple simultaneousPPPoE sessions (started from the RG or from devices inside the CPN) inconjunction with non-PPP encapsulated IP (bridged) sessions); networkAddress Port Translation (NAPT); PPPoE pass though; multiple queues withscheduling mechanism; and/or IP QoS.

The following data elements are maintained at the RG in accordance withsome embodiments of the present invention:

Record Type Elements Description Source Routing Routing Gateway Recordis maintained by RG. It is initialized with the initial Gateway Recordconfiguration by the manufacturer 902 or configured by the user duringthe install process. The ACS can also update this record during andafter the initial install. DSL_Line_ID As defined above As defined aboveDSL_Sync_Rate DSL_Sync_Rate is the current physical layer It ispopulated by RG during modem synch rate of the DSL line. This recordtraining. includes both upstream and downstream metrics. It alsoincludes what is the maximum obtainable synch rate NSP PPP NSP PPPSession Record is maintained by the Session Record RG to storeinformation specific to the 904 community NSP access session. Thissession is launched by the RG and provides the CPN with a default route.Only one community NSP record can exist. NSPSubscriber_ID This ID isused for accessing the DSL and NSP Assigned by NSP at subscriptionnetworks. time. NSPSubscriber_Password It is used together with theSubscriber_ID to NSPSubscriber_Password is initially access the DSL andNSP networks. set by the NSP, later it can be changed by the Subscriber.Session_Classifier This parameter contains classification This value ispopulated based on parameters to identify the NSP PPP sessionconfiguration data received from the (i.e. Ethertype and FQDN). ACS.Session_Priority Optional - Indicates the priority level of the Thisvalue is populated based on NSP PPP connection relative to the other PPPconfiguration data received from the sessions present - only required ifDSL ACS. bandwidth is shared across PPP sessions and need so establish apriority relationship across the PPP sessions Session_Bandwidth TheSession_Bandwidth contains information This value is initialized basedon a about the maximum bandwidth assigned to this default value or onthe Profile Data NSP PPP access session. received from the ACS. ASP PPPASP PPP Session Record is maintained by the Session Record RG to storeinformation specific to the ASP 906 access session. This PPP session islaunched by the RG and receives routes, via RIP, to the ASP network.Only one ASP record can exist. ASPSubscriber_ID This ID is used foraccessing the ASP network Assigned by ASP at subscription (andpotentially ASP applications although the time RG would not beinvolved). ASPSubscriber_Password It is used together with theASPSubscriber_ID Initially set by the ASP, later it can to access theRegional/Access Network. (and be changed by the Subscriber potentiallyASP applications although the RG would not be involved)Session_Classifier This parameter contains classification This value ispopulated based on parameters to identify the ASP PPP sessionconfiguration data received from the (i.e. Ethertype and FQDN). ACS.Session_Priority Optional - Indicates the priority level of the Thisvalue, is populated based on ASP PPP connection relative to the otherPPP configuration data received from the sessions present - onlyrequired if DSL ACS. bandwidth is shared across PPP sessions and need toestablish a priority relationship across the PPP sessionsSession_Bandwidth The Session_Bandwidth contains information This valueis populated based on about the maximum bandwidth (upstream andconfiguration data received from the downstream) assigned to this ASPPPP access ACS. session. Application The Application Flow Record ismaintained Flow Record by the RG for each application service that 910subscriber or users of the DSL line subscribe to. It is used to storeapplication specific data. Multiple application records can exist.Flow_Classifier Flow_Classifier contains classification This value ispopulated based on parameters to identify the application flow (IPconfiguration data received from the 5 tuple). ACS. Flow_PriorityIndicates the priority level of the application This value is populatedbased on within the ASP PPP connection. This configuration data receivedfrom the parameter indicates the treatment of the ACS. application flow(what queue it should be placed in) as well as any marking requirements(DSCP). Flow_Bandwidth Flow_Bandwidth parameter is assigned to the Thisvalue is populated based on given application based on the negotiatedvalue configuration data received from the between the ASP and theRegional/Access ACS. Network. It indicates the maximum upstream anddownstream bandwidth. It is used by the RG to shape and police theapplication flow. Personal NSP Personal NSP PPP Session Record is PPPSession maintained by the RG to store information Record specific to thePersonal NSP access session. 908 Multiple records can exist.Session_Classifier This parameter contains classification This value ispopulated based on parameters to identify the PNSP PPP sessionconfiguration data received from the (i.e. Ethertype and FQDN). ACS.Session_Priority Optional - Indicates the priority level of the Thisvalue is populated based on PNSP PPP connection relative to the otherPPP configuration data received from the sessions present - onlyrequired if DSL ACS. bandwidth is shared across PPP sessions and need toestablish a priority relationship across the PPP sessions.Session_Bandwidth The Session_Bandwidth contains information This valueis populated based on about the maximum bandwidth assigned to theconfiguration data received from the PNSP access service. ACS.

5.3 Regional/Access Network

The primary function of the Regional/Access Network is to provideend-to-end data transport between the customer premises and the NSP orASP. The Regional/Access Network may also provide higher layerfunctions, such as QoS and bandwidth management. QoS may be provided bytightly coupling traffic-engineering capabilities of the RegionalNetwork with the capabilities of the BRAS.

The following data elements are maintained at the Regional/AccessNetwork in, for example, a Regional/Access Network Record 920 inaccordance with some embodiments of the present invention:

Record Type Elements Description Source DSL Line Record The DSL linerecord is maintained in the 922 Regional/Access Network and is unique toeach DSL line. It maintains data specific to a DSL line and the sessionsthat traverse it. DSL_Line_ID As defined above As defined aboveDSL_Sync_Rate DSL_Sync_Rate is the current physical This data isobtained from the layer synch rate of the DSL line. This DSLAM EMS andthe RG record includes both upstream and downstream metrics. It alsoincludes what are the maximum obtainable data rates in either direction.NSP PPP Session NSP PPP Session Record is maintained by Record theRegional/Access Network to store 926 information specific to thecommunity NSP PPP access sessions. The NSP access record is tied to theDSL Line Record. Only one can exist. SP_ID Uniquely identifies the NSPthat the Assigned by the subscriber has a relationship with. Used toRegional/Access Network cross reference users to NSPs who make Providerwhen a wholesale turbo/QoS requests. relationship is established withthe NSP Session_Classifier This parameter contains classificationProvided by the NSP at parameters to identify the NSP PPP sessionsubscription time. (i.e. Ethertype and FQDN). Session_PriorityOptional - Indicates the priority level of the The Regional/AccessNetwork NSP PPP connection relative to the other Provider initializesthis value at PPP sessions present - only required if subscription timebased on the DSL bandwidth is shared across PPP business model and typeof sessions and need to establish a priority wholesale access that isbeing relationship across the PPP sessions sold to the NSP and itsrelationship to the ASP or the PNSP sessions. Session_Bandwidth TheSession_Bandwidth contains This value is set by the NSP. informationabout the maximum bandwidth (upstream and downstream) assigned to thisNSP PPP session. PersonalNSP PPP PersonalNSP PPP Session Record isSession Record maintained by the Regional/Access 930 Network to storeinformation specific to the Personal NSP PPP access sessions. Multiplerecords can exist. SP_ID As defined above As defined aboveSession_Classifier This parameter contains classification Provided bythe NSP at parameters to identify the PNSP PPP subscription time.session (i.e. Ethertype and FQDN). Session_Priority Optional - Indicatesthe priority level of the The Regional/Access Network PNSP PPPconnection relative to the other Provider initializes this value at PPPsessions present - only required if subscription time based on the DSLbandwidth is shared across PPP business model and type of sessions andneed to establish a priority wholesale access that is being relationshipacross the PPP sessions sold to the NSP and its relationship to the ASPor the PNSP sessions. Assigned by PNSP and passed to Regional/Accessnetwork via NNI message interface. Session_Bandwidth TheSession_Bandwidth contains This value is initially set by theinformation about the maximum bandwidth PNSP, (upstream and downstream)assigned to this PNSP PPP session. ASP PPP Session ASP PPP SessionRecord is maintained by Record the Regional/Access Network to store 928information specific to the ASP PPP session. The ASP PPP Record is tiedto the DSL Line Record. Only one ASP record can exist. SP_ID As definedabove As defined above Session_Classifier This parameter containsclassification Provided by the ASP at parameters to identify the ASP PPPsession subscription time (i.e. Ethertype and FQDN). Session_PriorityOptional - Indicates the priority level of the The Regional/AccessNetwork ASP PPP connection relative to the other Provider initializesthis value at PPP sessions present - only required if subscription timebased on the DSL bandwidth is shared across PPP business model and typeof sessions and need to establish a priority wholesale access that isbeing relationship across the PPP sessions sold to the NSP and itsrelationship to the ASP or the PNSP sessions. Assigned by ASP and passedto Regional/Access network via NNI message interface. Session_BandwidthThe Session_Bandwidth contains This value is initially set by theinformation about the maximum bandwidth Regional/Access Network(upstream and downstream) assigned to this Provider, but could bemodified ASP PPP session. by individual ASPs that request more bandwidthfor their application. An alternative model is that this value is set tothe max value initially and ASPs only affect their allotment ofbandwidth within the PPP session. Application Flow The Application FlowRecord contains Record specific details about an application within 932the ASP session. This record is tied to the ASP account record. Manyapplication records can be associated with an ASP account record.Flow_Classifier Flow_Classifier contains classification Values providedby the ASP. parameters to identify the application flow (IP 5 tuple). Itis used by the BRAS & the RG. Flow_Priority Indicates the priority levelof the Provided by the ASP. application within the ASP PPP connection.Regional/Access Network This parameter indicates the treatment ofProvider provides available the application flow (what queue it shouldoptions to select. be placed in) as well as any marking requirements(DSCP). It is used by the BRAS and the RG Flow_Bandwidth Flow_Bandwidthparameter is assigned to These values are provided by the givenapplication based on the the ASP to meet the needs of the negotiatedvalue between the ASP and the application. Regional/Access Network. Itindicates the maximum upstream and downstream bandwidth. It is used bythe BRAS & the RG to shape and police the application flow. ServiceProvider The service Provider Record is used to Record authenticateservice providers (NSPs, 924 ASPs) who wish to query the Regional/AccessNetwork for information and make bandwidth and or QoS requests. SP_ID Asdefined above As defined above SP_Credentials Used so authenticate thisservice provider Assigned by the together with SP_ID when connecting toRegional/Access Network the Regional/Access Network. ProviderAuthorization Represents what records the SP has access Assigned by theto (DSL line records can it make Regional/Access Networkqueries/modifications to) Provider CDR_Data Stores billing data forwholesale access to This data is generated by the Turbo and QoS controlsRegional/Access Network Provider

5.4 Application Service Provider

The Application Service Provider (ASP) is defined as a Service Providerthat shares a common infrastructure provided by the Regional/AccessNetwork and an IP address assigned and managed by the Regional NetworkProvider. In particular embodiments of the present invention, the ASPprovides one or more of: application services to the subscriber (gaming,video, content on demand, IP Telephony, etc.); service assurancerelating to this application service; additional software or CPE; and/ora contact point for all subscriber problems related to the provision ofspecific service applications and any related subscriber software.However, the ASP may not provide or manage the assignment of IP addressto the subscribers.

The following data elements may be maintained at the ASP in accordancewith some embodiments of the present invention:

Record Type Elements Description Source ASP Record ASP Record ismaintained by each service provider. 960 This record contains theservice provider's name, password, and other related information thatidentifies this unique ASP and is used to communicate withRegional/Access Network Provider. ASP_ID Used to uniquely identify anASP that has a business Assigned by relationship with Regional/AccessNetwork Regional/Access Network Provider. Provider at the time ofconnecting the ASP to the ASP network. ASP_Credentials Used toauthenticate an ASP together with ASP_ID Assigned by when a servicesession is established with a Regional/Access Network Regional/AccessNetwork Provider. Provider at the time of connecting the ASP to the ASPnetwork. ASP Subscriber ASP Subscriber Record is maintained by ASP thatRecord provides the application service. This record 962 uniquelyidentifies the subscriber and service related data. DSL_Line_ID Asdefined above As defined above ASPSubscriber_ID This ID is used foraccessing the DSL and ASP Assigned by the ASP at the networks. time ofsubscription. ASPSubscriber_(—) It is used together with theASPSubscriber_ID to Assigned by the ASP at the Password access the ASPapplication. time of subscription. Note: The ASP Subscriber ID andPassword are only used by ASP for its own purpose and will not be usedor referenced by Regional/Access Network for authentication purpose. Itis just for maintaining ASP data integrity. Session_Classifier Localcopy of Regional/Access Network ASP PPP Acquired from the SessionClassification info. Regional/Access Network through the ANI interface.Session_Priority Local copy of Regional/Access Network ASP PPP Acquiredfrom the Session Priority info. Regional/Access Network through the ANIinterface. Session_Bandwidth Local copy of the Regional/Access NetworkASP Acquired from the PPP Session Bandwidth Info. Regional/AccessNetwork through the ANI interface. Application Flow This record ismaintained by the ASP and used to Control Record store applicationspecific information such as 966 bandwidth arrangement and QoS settings.This record is tied to the ASP bandwidth Record. Multiple ApplicationRecord can be associated with one single ASP bandwidth record.Flow_Classifier Flow_Classifier contains classification parametersValues provided by the ASP. to identify the application flow (IP 5tuple). It is used by the BRAS & the RG. Flow_Priority Indicates thepriority level of the application within Provided by the ASP. The theASP PPP connection. This parameter indicates Regional/Access Network thetreatment of the application flow (what queue it Provider specifiesavailable should be placed in) as well as any marking options to select.requirements (DSCP). It is used by the BRAS and the RG Flow_BandwidthFlow_Bandwidth parameter is assigned to the given These values areprovided application based on the negotiated value between by the ASP tomeet the the ASP and the Regional/Access Network Provider. needs of theapplication. It indicates the maximum upstream and downstream bandwidth.It is used by the BRAS & the RG to shape and police the applicationflow. ASP User Account This record is maintained by the ASP. An ASP user964 account is tied to an ASP subscriber account. Multiple user accountscan be associated with a single subscriber account. User_ID This ID isused for accessing the given service. Assigned by a given ASP to aparticular user. User_Password It is used together with the User_ID toaccess a User_Password is initially given service. assigned by an ASP.Can be changed by the user.

5.5 Network Service Provider

The Network Service Provider (NSP) is defined as a Service Provider thatrequires extending a Service Provider-specific Internet Protocol (IP)address. This is the typical application of conventional DSL service.The NSP owns and procures addresses that they, in turn, allocateindividually or in blocks to their subscribers. The subscribers aretypically located in Customer Premises Networks (CPNs). The NSP servicemay be subscriber-specific, or communal when an address is shared usingNAPT throughout a CPN. The NSP may include Internet Service Providers(ISPs) and Corporate Service Providers (CSPs); may be responsible foroverall service assurance; may provide CPE, or software to run oncustomer-owned CPE, to support a given service; may provide the customercontact point for any and all customer related problems related to theprovision of this service; and/or may authenticate access and providesand manages the assignment of IP address to the subscribers.

The following data elements are maintained at the NSP in accordance withsome embodiments of the present invention:

Record Type Elements Description Source NSP Record NSP Record ismaintained by each NSP. This 940, 950 record contains the serviceprovider's name, password, and other related information that identifiesthis unique service provider and is used communicate with access NSP.NSP_ID Uniquely identifies the NSP that the subscriber Assigned byRegional/Access has a relationship with. Used to cross Network Providerat the time reference users to NSPs who make turbo/QoS of connecting theNSP. requests NSP_Credentials Used to authenticate this NSP togetherwith Assigned by Regional/Access NSP_ID when a service session isestablished Network Provider at the time with a DSL access network forrequesting a of connecting the NSP. network service. NSP Subscriber NSPSubscriber Record is maintained by NSP Record that provides the networkservice. This record 942, 952 uniquely identifies the subscriber andservice related data. DSL_Line_ID As defined above As defined aboveNSPSubscriber_ID This ID is used for accessing the DSL and Assigned to aDSL subscriber NSP networks. by the NSP. NSPSubscriber_(—) It is usedtogether with the NSPSubscriber_ID Assigned by the ASP at the Passwordto access the NSP application. time of subscription. Note: The NSPSubscriber ID and Password are only used by NSP for its own purpose andwill not be used or referenced by Regional/Access Network forauthentication purpose. It is just for maintaining the NSP dataintegrity. Session_Classifier Local copy of Regional/Access Network NSPAcquired from the PPP Session Classification info Regional/AccessNetwork through the NNI interface. Session_Priority Local copy ofRegional/Access Network NSP Acquired from the PPP Session Priority info.Regional/Access Network through the NNI interface. Session_BandwidthLocal copy of the Regional/Access Network Acquired from the ASP PPPSession Bandwidth Info. Regional/Access Network through the NNIinterface. NSP User Account This record is maintained by the NSP. A NSP944, 954 user account is tied to an NSP subscriber account. Multipleuser accounts can be associated with a single subscriber account.User_ID This ID is used for accessing the given service. Assigned by agiven NSP to a particular user. User_Password User_Password is initiallyassigned by a NSP. Can be changed by the user.6. Reference Interface Specification and Detailed Message Flow

This interface reference specification defines an interface between theRegional/Access Network and a Network Service Provider (NSP), a PersonalNSP (PNSP), and an Application Service Provider (ASP) as well as aninterface between the Regional/Access Network and Routing Gateway (RG)for enabling the NSP/PNSP/ASP to utilize the bandwidth and QoSmanagement capabilities provided by the Regional/Access Network in theirNSP/PNSP/ASP applications, in accordance with some embodiments of thepresent invention.

6.1 Interface Between RG and Regional/Access Network

This section defines the messaging interface between the Regional/AccessNetwork and the Routing Gateway, in accordance with some embodiments ofthe present invention. This interface does not define any message for RGor ACS authentication assuming both of them are part of the DSL Networkinfrastructure.

1. UpdateSessionBandwidthInfo(DSL_Line_ID, SP_ID, Session_Classifier,Session_Priority, Session_Bandwidth)

This message is sent from the Regional/Access Network to a specified RG(via ACS) as a notification when new bandwidth and QoS information for aPPP session becomes available. The bandwidth and QoS related parametersinclude Session_Classifier, Session_Priority, and Session_Bandwidth.These parameters will be stored in the NSP PPP Session Record, PNSP PPPSession Record, or ASP PPP Session Record depending on the SP_ID. Thesesession records are defined in the DSL Data Reference Model.

-   -   DSL_Line_ID: Subscriber's Line Identification.    -   SP_ID: The identifier of service provider requesting for        service. The service provider can only be NSP, PNSP, or ASP.    -   Session_Classifier: PPP session classifier.    -   Session_Priority: Session priority indicator.    -   Session_Bandwidth: Bandwidth data including upstream bandwidth        and downstream bandwidth.        2. UpdateSessionBandwidthAck(DSL_Line_ID, SP_ID)

This message is sent from the RG to the Regional/Access Network (viaACS) as an acknowledgement of receiving the update session bandwidthinformation notification.

-   -   DSL_Line_ID: Subscriber's line identification.    -   SP_ID: The identifier of service provider requesting for        service. The service provider can only be NSP, PNSP, or ASP.        3. UpdateAppFlowControlInfo(DSL_Line_ID, SP_ID, Flow_Classifier,        Flow_Priority, Flow_Bandwidth)

This message is sent from the Regional/Access Network to a specified RG(via ACS) as a notification of new bandwidth and QoS info forapplication flow becoming available. The parameters includingFlow_Classifier, Flow_Priority, and Flow_Bandwidth will replace theexisting data stored in the Application Flow Control Record defined inthe Regional/Access Data Reference Model.

-   -   DSL_Line_ID: Subscriber's line identification.    -   SP_ID: The identifier of service provider requesting for        service. The service provider can only be NSP, PNSP, or ASP.    -   Flow_Classifier: Application flow classifier.    -   Flow_Priority: Priority queue indicator.    -   Flow_Bandwidth: Flow bandwidth information for shaping and        policing.        4. UpdateAppFlowControlAck(DSL_Line_ID, SP_ID)

This message is sent from the RG to the Regional/Access Network (viaACS) as an acknowledgement of receiving the update application flowcontrol info notification.

-   -   DSL_Line_ID: Subscriber's line identification.    -   SP_ID: The identifier of service provider requesting for        service. The service provider can only be NSP, PNSP, or ASP.        5. UpdateSessionBandwidthRequest(DSL_Line_ID, SP_ID)

This message is sent from the RG to the Regional/Access Network (viaACS) as a request for obtaining the PPP session level of the bandwidthand QoS settings stored at the Regional/Access Network for the specifiedsubscriber line.

-   -   DSL_Line_ID: Subscriber's line identification.    -   SP_ID: The identifier of service provider requesting for        service. The service provider can only be NSP, PNSP, or ASP.        6. UpdateSessionBandwidthResponse(DSL_Line_ID, SP_ID,        Session_Classifier, Session_Priority, Session_Bandwidth,        Return_Code)

This message is sent from the Regional/Access Network to the RG (viaACS) as a response for getting the PPP session level of the bandwidthand QoS settings request.

-   -   DSL_Line_ID: Subscriber's line identification.    -   SP_ID: The identifier of service provider requesting for        service. The service provider can only be NSP, PNSP, or ASP.    -   Session_Classifier: PPP session classifier.    -   Session_Priority: Session priority indicator.    -   Session_Bandwidth: Session bandwidth information including        upstream bandwidth and downstream bandwidth.    -   Return_Code: Return code from the Regional/Access Network,        indicating if the request is accomplished successfully.        7. UpdateAppFlowControlRequest(DSL_Line_ID, SP_ID)

This message is sent from the RG to the Regional/Access Network (viaACS) as a request for obtaining the application flow level of thebandwidth and QoS settings stored at the Regional/Access Network for thespecified subscriber line.

-   -   DSL_Line_ID: Subscriber's line identification.    -   SP_ID: The identifier of service provider requesting for        service. The service provider can only be NSP, PNSP, or ASP.        8. UpdateAppFlowControlResponse(DSL_Line_ID, SP_ID,        Flow_Classifier, Flow_Priority, Flow_Bandwidth, Return_Code)

This message is sent from the Regional/Access Network to the RG (viaACS) as a response for getting the application flow level of thebandwidth and QoS settings request.

-   -   DSL_Line_ID: Subscriber's line identification.    -   SP_ID: The identifier of service provider requesting for        service. The service provider can only be NSP, PNSP, or ASP.    -   Flow_Classifier: Application flow classifier.    -   Flow_Priority: Priority queue indicator.    -   Flow_Bandwidth: Flow bandwidth information for shaping and        policing.    -   Return_Code: Return code from the DSL Network, indicating if the        request is accomplished successfully.

6.2 Interface Between Regional/Access Network and ASP

This section defines the messaging interface between the Regional/AccessNetwork and the Application Service Providers, in accordance with someembodiments of the present invention.

1. EstablishServiceSessionRequest (SP_ID, SP_Credentials)

This message is sent from an ASP to the Regional/Access Network as arequest for establishing a communication session. All the ASPs need tobe authenticated by the Regional/Access Network before the networkbandwidth and QoS service capabilities can be accessed. With thisrequest, the ASP can specify a life span of this session by providing alife span parameter that could be imbedded in the SP_Credentials. Whenthe specified life-span expires, the ASP must resend this request toestablish a new service session.

-   -   SP_ID: Service Provider Identification. SP_Credentials: Service        Provider Credentials.        2. EstablishServiceSessionResponse (Authorization, Return_Code)

This message is sent from the Regional/Access Network to the serviceprovider as a response for the communication session establishmentrequest. The Regional/Access Network returns an authorization codeindicating what services and resources are authorized for the serviceprovider to access.

-   -   Authorization: Authorization code indicating what        Regional/Access Network resources is authorized for the service        provider to access.    -   Return_Code: Return code from the Regional/Access Network,        indicating if the request is accomplished successfully.        3. CreateAppFlowControlRecordRequest (Authorization,        DSL_Line_ID, SP_ID, Flow_Classifier, Flow_Priority,        Flow_Bandwidth)

This message is sent from an ASP to the Regional/Access Network as arequest for creating an application specific flow control record definedas Application Flow Control Record in DSL Data Model. The initialsettings are provided with Flow_Classifier, SP_ID, Flow_Priority, andFlow_Bandwidth.

-   -   Authorization: Authorization code obtained when the service        session is established.    -   DSL_Line_ID: Subscriber's line identification.    -   SP_ID: The identifier of service provider requesting for        service. The service provider can only be ASP.    -   Flow_Classifier: 5-tuple (source IP address, source port,        destination IP address, destination port, protocol type)        identifying a unique application flow.    -   Flow_Priority: Priority queue setting    -   Flow_Bandwidth: Flow bandwidth information for shaping        and-policing.        4. CreateAppFlowControlRecordResponse (DSL_Line_ID, Return_Code)

This message is sent from the Regional/Access Network to the ASP as aresponse for the creation of the application flow control recordrequest.

-   -   DSL_Line_ID: Subscriber's line identification.    -   Return_Code: Return code from the Regional/Access Network,        indicating if the request is accomplished successfully.        5. DeleteAppFlowControlRecordRequest (Authorization,        DSL_Line_ID, SP_ID, Flow_Classifier)

This message is sent from an ASP to the Regional/Access Network as arequest for deleting an Application Flow Control Record defined in DSLData Model.

-   -   Authorization: Authorization code obtained when the service        session is established.    -   DSL_Line_ID: Subscriber's line identification.    -   SP_ID: The identifier of service provider requesting for        service. The service provider can only be ASP.    -   Flow_Classifier: Identifier of an application flow.        6. DeleteAppFlowControlRecordResponse (DSL_Line_ID, Return_Code)

This message is sent from the Regional/Access Network to the ASP as aresponse for the deletion of the application flow control recordrequest.

-   -   DSL_Line_ID: Subscriber's line identification.    -   Return_Code: Return code from the Regional/Access Network,        indicating if the request is accomplished successfully.        7. ChangeAppFlowControlRequest (Authorization, DSL_Line_ID,        SP_ID, Flow_Classifier, Flow_Priority, Flow_Bandwidth)

An ASP can send this message to the Regional/Access Network as a requestfor changing the Priority and. Shaping Data defined in the ApplicationFlow Control Record of the DSL Data Model.

-   -   Authorization: Authorization code obtained when the service        session is established.    -   DSL_Line_ID:Subscriber's line identification.    -   SP_ID: The identifier of service provider requesting for        service. The service provider should be an ASP.    -   Flow_Classifer: Application traffic flow identifier.    -   Flow_Priority: The application priority queue indicator for        replacing the existing settings.    -   Flow_Bandwidth: Flow bandwidth information for replacing the        existing settings.        8. ChangeAppFlowControlResponse (DSL_Line_ID, Return_Code)

This message is sent from the Regional/Access Network to the serviceprovider as a response for the bandwidth change request. A Return_Codeis sent back indicating whether the change is successful.

-   -   DSL_Line_ID: Subscriber's line identification.    -   Return_Code: Return code from the Regional/Access Network,        indicating if the request is accomplished successfully.        9. QueryAppFlowControlRequest (Authorization, DSL_Line_ID,        SP_ID, Flow_Classifier)

An ASP can send this message to the Regional/Access Network as a requestfor querying the application specific priority and shaping informationcontained in the Application Flow Control Record.

-   -   Authorization: Authorization code obtained when the service        session is established.    -   DSL_Line_ID: Subscriber's line ID.    -   SP_ID: Identifier of the service provider requesting for        bandwidth and priority information.    -   Flow_Classifier: Identifier of an application flow.        10. QueryAppFlowControlResponse (DSL_Line_ID, Flow_Classifier,        Flow_Priority, Flow_Bandwidth, Return_Code)

This message is sent from the Regional/Access Network to the serviceprovider as a response for the bandwidth info request. The bandwidthdata record is returned.

-   -   DSL_Line_ID: Subscriber's line identification.    -   Flow_Classifier: Identifier of an application flow.    -   Flow_Priority: Current priority queue setting.    -   Flow_Bandwidth: Current bandwidth setting for shaping and        policing.    -   Return_Code: Return code from the Regional/Access Network,        indicating if the request is accomplished successfully.        11. QuerySessionBandwidthRequest (Authorization, DSL_Line_ID,        SP_ID)

An ASP, can send this message to the Regional/Access Network as arequest for querying the PPP session bandwidth and priority informationassociated with the specified DSL_Line_ID. The data is stored in ASP PPPSession record defined in the DSL Data Model.

-   -   Authorization: Authorization code obtained when the service        session is established.    -   DSL_Line_ID: Subscriber's line ID.    -   SP_ID: Identifier of the service provider requesting for        bandwidth and priority information.        12. QuerySessionBandwidthResponse (DSL_Line_ID,        Session_Classifier, Session_Priority, Session_Bandwidth)

This message is sent from the Regional/Access Network to the serviceprovider as a response for the bandwidth info request. The bandwidthdata record is returned.

-   -   DSL_Line_ID: Subscriber's line identification.    -   Session_Classifier: PPP session classifier used to identify PPP        session traffic flow.    -   Session_Priority: Current Priority queue setting.    -   Session_Bandwidth: Current session bandwidth setting.        13. TerminateServiceSessionRequest (SP_ID, Authorization)

This message is sent from an ASP to the Regional/Access Network as arequest for terminating a communication session.

-   -   SP_ID: Service Provider Identification.    -   Authorization: Authorization code indicating what        Regional/Access Network resources is authorized for the service        provider to access.        14. TerminateServiceSessionResponse (SP_ID, Return_Code)

This message is sent from the Regional/Access Network to the serviceprovider as a response for the communication session terminationrequest.

-   -   SP_ID: Service-Provider Identification.    -   Return_Code: Return code from the Regional/Access Network,        indicating if the request is accomplished successfully.

6.3 Interface Between Regional/Access Network and NSP

This section defines the messaging interface between the Regional/AccessNetwork and Network Service Provider, in accordance with someembodiments of the present invention.

1. EstablishServiceSessionRequest (SP_ID, SP_Credentials)

This message is sent from a NSP to the Regional/Access Network as arequest for establishing a communication session. The NSPs need to beauthenticated by the Regional/Access Network before the networkbandwidth and QoS service capabilities can be accessed. With thisrequest, the NSP can specify a life cycle of this session by providing alife span parameter imbedded in the SP_Credentials. When the specifiedlife span expires, the NSP must resend this request to establish a newservice session.

-   -   SP_ID: Service Provider Identification.    -   SP_Credentials: Service Provider Credentials.        2. EstablishServiceSessionResponse (Authorization; Return_Code)

This message is sent from the Regional/Access Network to the serviceprovider as a response for the communication session establishmentrequest. The Regional/Access Network returns an authorization codeindicating what services and resources are authorized for the serviceprovider to access.

-   -   Authorization: Authorization code indicating what        Regional/Access Network resources is authorized for the service        provider to access.    -   Return_Code: Return code from the Regional/Access Network,        indicating if the request is accomplished successfully.        3. ChangeSessionBandwidthRequest (Authorization, DSL_Line_ID,        SP_ID, Session_Classifier, Session_Priority, Session_Bandwidth)

A NSP can send this message to the Regional/Access Network as a requestfor changing the PPP session bandwidth and priority informationassociated with the specified DSL_Line_ID. The data is stored in the NSPPPP Session Record defined in the DSL Data Model.

-   -   Authorization: Authorization code obtained when the service        session is established.    -   DSL_Line_ID: Subscriber's line identification.    -   SP_ID: Identifier of service provider requesting for service.    -   Session_Classifier: PPP session classifier used to identify PPP        session traffic flow.    -   Session_Priority: Session priority indicator setting to replace        the current one.    -   Session_Bandwidth: Session bandwidth information for replacing        the existing one.        4. ChangeSessionBandwidthResponse (DSL_Line_ID, Return_Code)

This message is sent from the Regional/Access Network to the serviceprovider as a response for the bandwidth change request. A Return_Codeis sent back indicating whether the change is successful.

-   -   DSL_Line_ID: Subscriber's line identification.    -   Return_Code: Return code from the Regional/Access Network,        indicating if the request is accomplished successfully.        5. QuerySessionBandwidthRequest (Authorization, DSL_Line_ID,        SP_ID)

A NSP can send this message to the Regional/Access Network as a requestfor querying the PPP session bandwidth and priority informationassociated with the specified DSL_Line_ID. The data is stored in the NSPPPP Session Record defined in the DSL Data Model.

-   -   Authorization: Authorization code obtained when the service        session is established.    -   DSL_Line_ID: Subscriber's line ID.    -   SP_ID: Identifier of the service provider requesting for        bandwidth and priority information.        6. QuerySessionBandwidthResponse (DSL_Line_ID,        Session_Classifier, Session_Priority, Session_Bandwidth)

This message is sent from the Regional/Access Network to the serviceprovider as a response for the bandwidth info request. The bandwidthdata record is returned.

-   -   DSL_Line_ID: Subscriber's line identification.    -   Session_Classifier: PPP session classifier used to identify PPP        session traffic flow.    -   Session_Priority: Current Priority queue setting.    -   Session_Bandwidth: Current session bandwidth setting.        7. TerminateServiceSessionRequest (SP_ID, Authorization)

This message is sent from an NSP to the Regional/Access Network as arequest for terminating a communication session.

-   -   SP_ID: Service Provider Identification.    -   Authorization: Authorization code indicating what        Regional/Access Network resources is authorized for the service        provider to access.        8. TerminateServiceSessionResponse (SP_ID, Return_Code)

This message is sent from the Regional/Access Network to the-serviceprovider as a response for the communication session terminationrequest.

-   -   SP_ID: Service Provider Identification.    -   Return_Code: Return code from the Regional/Access Network,        indicating if the request is accomplished successfully.

6.4 Application Framework Infrastructure

An Application Framework Infrastructure, in accordance with someembodiments of the present invention, is illustrated in FIG. 13 and is areference implementation model for enabling the ASP, NSP, and/orPersonal NSP to utilize the bandwidth and QoS management capabilities.This framework infrastructure is supported by seven functional elements,including ANI Protocol Handler, NNI Protocol Handler, UNI ProtocolHandler, DSL Service Manager, DSL Session Data Store, ProvisionInterface, and BRAS Adapter, in accordance with some embodiments of thepresent invention. For realizing the DSL network bandwidth and QoSmanagement capabilities, this infrastructure may interact with theRouting Gateway via an Automated Configuration Server (ACS) and the BRASto set appropriate policies upon receiving a request from the ASP, NSP,or PNSP, as depicted in FIG. 13.

The communication interface between the Regional/Access Network and anASP is defined as the Application-to-Network Interface (ANI). Thecommunication interface between the Regional/Access Network and a NSP orPNSP is defined as the Network-to-Network Interface (NNI) as discussedabove with respect to the Regional/Access Interface. Through thisframework infrastructure, the ASP, NSP, and/or PNSP can use the DSLNetwork bandwidth and QoS management capabilities to create theirbandwidth and QoS “aware” applications. To enable the communication andservice creation, a DSL Service API may be defined as a part of theRegional/Access Application Framework Infrastructure. This API may be areference procedural implementation of the ANI and NNI.

Any suitable communication interface between the application frameworkand the BRAS and ACS may be utilized and, therefore, will not bediscussed in detail herein. An interface may be used at these points andmay be defined as part of the network element requirements. The use ofCommon Open Policy Service (COPS) is an example standard interface thatmay be implemented at these points to push changes into the ACS andBRAS.

6.4.1 Framework Infrastructure Element Functional Description

This section describes the main functions of each element of theApplication Framework Infrastructure as illustrated in FIG. 13, inaccordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

ANI Protocol Handler

The ANI Protocol Handler takes a request message from the ASPapplication, passes the request to the DSL Service Manager, waits forthe response from the DSL Service Manager, and sends the responsemessage back to the ASP that requests the service. The protocol used inthis prototype is the Application-to-Network Interface defined in thisproposal.

NNI Protocol Handler

The NNI Protocol Handler takes a request message from the NSP/PNSPapplication, passes the request to the DSL Service Manager, waits forthe response from the DSL Service Manager, and sends the responsemessage back to the NSP/PNSP that requests the service. The protocolused in this prototype is the Network-to-Network Interface defined inthis proposal.

UNI Protocol Handler

The UNI Protocol Handler passes the bandwidth and QoS related parametersvia the ACS to a Routing Gateway associated with a subscriber. Becausethe Routing Gateway obtains its provisioning parameters from the ACSwith a soon to be industry standard interface (WAN-Side DSLConfiguration specification), this same interface may be used tocommunicate bandwidth and QoS information to the RG.

DSL Service Manager

The DSL Service Manager behaves as a service broker that provides one ormore of the following functions: allows ASP/NSP/PNSP to set and querybandwidth and QoS data associated with a PPP session, and to create,change, and delete application flow control record associated with eachindividual application; interacts with BRAS to pass bandwidth and QoSrelated data and policies for prioritizing, shaping, and policingsubscriber's traffic flow either associated with a PPP session or anindividual application flow; and/or communicates with ACS to passbandwidth and QoS related data and polices to a specified Routinggateway working together with BRAS for prioritizing, shaping, andpolicing the subscriber's traffic flow at the access network.

DSL Session Data Store

This is the Master Database maintaining the DSL data model described insection 4.3. It stores all the bandwidth and QoS related data andpolicies that can be queried, modified, created, and deleted by theASP/NSP/PNSP through the ANI/NNI interface. The following records aremaintained in the DSL Session Data Store in accordance with someembodiments of the present invention: a DSL Line Record; an NSP PPPSession Record; a Personal NSP PPP Session Record; an ASP PPP SessionRecord; and/or an application Flow Control Record.

This master copy is replicated in the BRAS and ACS network elements withappropriate data records. The BRAS copy of the data may include thefollowing records in accordance with some embodiments of the presentinvention: an NSP PPP Session Record; a personal NSP PPP Session Record;an ASP PPP Session Record; and/or an Application Flow Control Record.

The ACS network element may include a replica of the following recordsin accordance with some embodiments of the present invention: an NSP PPPSession Record; a personal NSP PPP Session Record; an ASP PPP SessionRecord; and/or an Application Flow Control Record.

DSL Service API

This service creation API is used by the ASP/NSP for creating theirbandwidth and QoS “aware” applications. This API directly maps theANI/NNI protocol defined in this proposal into procedures, methods,and/or other software embodiments, for example, to facilitateapplication programming.

Provisioning Interface

This is a GUI based interface to allow the DSL Service Provider toprovision the bandwidth and QoS settings for each individual subscriberbased on subscriber telephone number, and provision the ASP/NSP thathave a business arrangement with the DSL service provider. The datamodel for support of the provisioning has been defined herein.

6.4.2 DSL Service Messaging Flow

This section provides several service-scenarios to demonstrate how themessaging interface may be used by an ASP application in accordance withsome embodiments of the present invention.

Service Provider Authentication Scenario Messaging Flow

FIG. 14 illustrates the messaging flow for the applicationauthentication scenario in accordance with some embodiments of thepresent invention.

(1) EstablishServiceSessionRequest (SP_ID, SP_Credentials)

This message is sent from the ASP/NSP to the DSLNetwork as a request forestablishing a communication session. The ASP/NSP needs to beauthenticated by the Regional/Access Network before any network servicecan be provided.

Processing Steps:

-   -   a) ANI/TNI Protocol Handler receives the request message and        passes the request to DSL Service Manager    -   b) DSL Service Manager finds the corresponding Service Provider        Record by querying DSL Session Data Store based on the SP_ID    -   c) DSL Service Manager validates the SP_Credentials. A result of        authentication is sent back to the ASP/NSP via ANI/NNI Protocol        Handler.

If the authentication is passed, a valid Authorization code is sentback. Otherwise, an invalid Authorization code is returned.

(2) EstablishServiceSessionResponse (Authorization, Return_Code)

This message is sent from Regional/Access Network to ASP/NSP as aresponse for the service session establishment request.

(3) TerminateServiceSessionRequest (SP_ID, Authorization)

This message is sent from the ASP/NSP to the DSL Network as a requestfor terminating the communication session.

-   -   a) ANI/NNI Protocol Handler receives the request message and        passes the request to DSL Service Manager.    -   b) DSL Service Manager finds the corresponding communication        session, terminates the session, and release all the session        related resources.    -   c) DSL Service manager sends a result back to the ASP/NSP via        ANI/NNI Protocol Handler.        (4) TerminateServiceSessionResponse (SP_ID, Return_Code)

This message is sent from Regional/Access Network to ASP/NSP as aresponse for the service session termination request.

Application Level Bandwidth and QoS Query Scenario Messaging Flow

FIG. 15 illustrates the messaging flow for the application levelbandwidth and QoS query scenario in accordance with some embodiments ofthe present invention.

(1) QueryAppFlowControlRequest (Authorization, DSL_Line_ID, SP_ID,Flow_Classifer)

This message is sent from the ASP to the DSLNetwork as a request forinquiring the bandwidth and QoS information associated with thespecified DSL line.

Processing Steps:

-   -   a) ANI Protocol Handler receives the request message and passes        the request to DSL Service Manager    -   b) DSL Service Manager finds the corresponding DSL Line Record,        ASP PPP Session Record, and Application Flow Record(s) to        collect the requested information.    -   c) DSL Service Manager sends the collected bandwidth and QoS        info back to the ASP via ANI Protocol Handler.        (2) QueryAppFlowControlResponse (DSL_Line_ID, Flow_Classifier,        Flow_Priority, Flow_Bandwidth, Return_Code)

This message is sent from Regional/Access Network to ASP as a responsefor inquiring the bandwidth and QoS info request.

Application Level Bandwidth and QoS Modification Scenario Messaging Flow

FIG. 16 illustrates the messaging flow for the application levelbandwidth and QoS query modification scenario in accordance with someembodiments of the present invention.

(1) ChangeAppFlowControlRequest (Authorization, DSL_Line_ID, SP_ID,Flow_Classifier, Flow_Priority, Flow_Bandwidth)

This message is sent from the ASP to the Regional/Access Network as arequest for changing the bandwidth and QoS data associated with thespecified DSL line.

Processing Steps:

-   -   a) ANI Protocol Handler receives the request message and passes        the request to DSL Service Manager    -   b) DSL Service Manager validates the authorization code based on        corresponding Service Provider record, finds the corresponding        DSL Line Record, ASP PPP Session Record, and Application Flow        Record(s) to set the bandwidth and QoS data as requested by the        ASP.    -   c) DSL Service Manager communicates with BRAS Adapter for        passing related bandwidth and QoS data to,BRAS.    -   d) BRAS Adapter communicates with BRAS for setting the data in        BRAS own data repository.    -   e) DSL Service Manager notifies RG (via ACS) of new bandwidth        and QoS info becoming available by sending the message of        -   UpdateAppFlowControlInfo(DSL_Line_ID, SP_ID,            Flow_Classifier, Flow_Priority, Flow_Bandwidth) through UNI            Protocol Handler.    -   f) UNI Protocol Handler passes the new bandwidth and QoS data to        a specified RG via ACS.    -   g) ACS sends a response message back to UNI Protocol Handler to        confirm the data is received.    -   h) UNI Protocol Handler sends the message        -   UpdateAppFlowControlAck(DSL_Line-ID, SP_ID) back to DSL            Service Manager as a response.    -   i) DSL Service Manager sends the response message back to ASP        via ANI Protocol Handler.    -   j) ACS notifies the specified RG of the availability of new        bandwidth/QoS data via WAN-Side DSL Config Interface.    -   k) The specified RG receives notification and downloads the new        data from ACS.        (2) ChangeAppFlowControlResponse (DSL_Line_ID, Return_Code)

This message is sent from Regional/Access Network to ASP as a responsefor setting the bandwidth and QoS request.

Application Flow Control Record Creation Scenario Messaging Flow

FIG. 17 illustrates the messaging flow for the application flow controlrecord creation scenario in accordance with some embodiments of thepresent invention.

(1) CreateAppFlowControlRequest (Authorization, DSL_Line_ID, SP_ID,Flow_Classifier, Flow_Priority, Flow_Bandwidth)

This message is sent from the ASP to the Regional/Access Network as arequest for creating an Application Flow Control Record for a specifiedsubscriber. Processing Steps:

-   -   a) ANI Protocol Handler receives the request message and passes        the request to DSL Service Manager    -   b) DSL Service Manager validates the authorization code based on        corresponding Service Provider record, finds the corresponding        DSL Line Record, ASP PPP Session Record, and then creates and        sets an Application Flow Control Record as requested by the ASP.    -   c) DSL Service Manager communicates with BRAS Adapter for        passing related bandwidth and QoS data to BRAS.    -   d) BRAS Adapter communicates with BRAS for setting the data in        BRAS own data repository.    -   e) DSL Service Manager notifies RG of new bandwidth and QoS        becoming available by sending the message of        UpdateAppFlowControlInfo(DSL_Line_ID, SP_ID, Flow_Classifier,        Flow_Priority, Flow_Bandwidth) via UNI Protocol Handler.    -   f) UNI Protocol Handler passes the new bandwidth and QoS data to        a specified RG via ACS.    -   g) ACS sends a response message back to UNI Protocol Handler to        confirm the data is received.    -   h) UNI Protocol Handler sends the message        -   UpdateAppFlowControlAck(DSL_Line_ID, SP_ID) back to DSL            Service Manager as a response.    -   i) DSL Service Manager sends the response message back to ASP        via ANI Protocol Handler.    -   j) ACS notifies the specified RG of the availability of new        bandwidth/QoS data via WAN-Side DSL Config Interface.    -   k) The specified RG receives notification and downloads the new        data from ACS.        (2) CreateAppFlowControlResponse (DSL_Line_ID, Return_Code)

This message is sent from DSL Network to ASP as a response for creatingthe application flow control record request.

Application Flow Control Record Deletion Scenario Messaging Flow

FIG. 18 illustrates the messaging flow for the application flow controlrecord deletion scenario in accordance with some embodiments of thepresent invention.

(1) DeleteAppFlowControlRecordRequest (Authorization, DSL_Line_ID,SP_ID, Flow_Classifier)

This message is sent from the ASP to the DSLNetwork as a request fordeleting an Application Flow Control Record for a specified application.

Processing Steps:

-   -   a) ANI Protocol Handler receives the request message and passes        the request to DSL Service Manager    -   b) DSL Service Manager finds the corresponding DSL Line Record        and associated the ASP PPP Session Record. Delete the App Flow        Control Record based on the Flow_Classifier.    -   c) DSL Service Manager sends a response back to ASP as a        confirmation.        (2) DeleteAppFlowControlRecordResponse (DSL_Line_ID,        Return_Code)

This message is sent from Regional/Access Network to ASP as a responsefor deletion of App Flow Control Record request.

NSP PPP Session Level Bandwidth and QoS Modification Scenario MessagingFlow

FIG. 19 illustrates the messaging flow for the PPP session levelbandwidth and QoS modification scenario in accordance with someembodiments of the present invention.

(1) ChangeSessionBandwidthRequest (Authorization, DSL_Line_ID, SP_ID,Session_Classifier, Session_Priority, Session_Bandwidth)

This message is sent from the NSP to the Regional/Access Network as arequest for changing the PPP session level of bandwidth and QoS dataassociated with the specified DSL line.

Processing Steps:

-   -   a) NNI Protocol Handler receives the request message and passes        the request to DSL Service Manager    -   b) DSL Service Manager validates the authorization code based on        the corresponding Service Provider record, finds the        corresponding DSL Line Record, and the NSP/PNSP PPP Session        Record to set the bandwidth and QoS data as requested by the        NSP.    -   c) DSL Service Manager communicates with BRAS Adapter for        passing the bandwidth and QoS data to BRAS.    -   d) BRAS Adapter communicates with BRAS for setting the data in        BRAS own data repository.    -   e) DSL Service Manager notifies RG of new bandwidth and QoS        being available by sending a notification to NNI Protocol        Handler.    -   f) NNI Protocol Handler passes the new bandwidth and QoS data        associated with a specified RG to ACS by sending the following        message to ACS.

UpdateSessionBandwidthInfo(DSL Line_ID, SP_ID, Session_Classifier,Session_Priority, Session_Bandwidth).

-   -   g) ACS sends a response message back to NNI Protocol Handler to        confirm the data is received by sending the following message.        -   UpdateSessionBandwidthAck(DSL_Line_ID, SP_ID)    -   h) UNI Protocol Handler passes the acknowledgement back to DSL        Service Manager as a response.    -   i) DSL Service Manager sends the following response message back        to NSP via NNI Protocol Handler.        -   ChangeSessionBandwidthResponse(DSL_Line_ID, Return_Code)    -   j) ACS notifies the specified RG of the availability of new        bandwidth/QoS data via WAN-Side DSL Config Interface.    -   k) The specified RG receives notification and downloads the new        bandwidth and QoS data from ACS.        (2) ChangeSessionBandwidthResponse (DSL_Line_ID, Return_Code)

This message is sent from Regional/Access Network to NSP as a responsefor changing the PPP level of the bandwidth and QoS request.

ASP/PPP Session Level Bandwidth and QoS Query Scenario Messaging Flow

FIG. 20 illustrates the messaging flow for the PPP session levelbandwidth and QoS query scenario in accordance with some embodiments ofthe present invention.

(1) QuerySessionBandwidthRequest (Authorization, DSL_Line_ID, SP_ID)

This message is sent from the ASP/NSP to the Regional/Access Network asa request for inquiring the bandwidth and QoS information associatedwith the specified DSL line.

Processing Steps:

-   -   a) ANI/NNI Protocol Handler receives the request message and        passes the request to DSL Service Manager    -   b) DSL Service Manager finds the corresponding DSL Line Record        and the ASP/NSP PPP Session Record to collect the requested        information.    -   c) DSL Service Manager sends the collected bandwidth and QoS        info at PPP session level back to the ASP/NSP via ANI/NNI        Protocol Handler.

(2) QuerySessionBandwidthResponse (DSL_Line_ID, Session_Classifier,Session_Priority, Session_Bandwidth, Return_Code)

This message is sent from Regional/Access Network to ASP/NSP as aresponse for inquiring the bandwidth and QoS info request.

7. Future Capabilities of the Application Framework

Exemplary embodiments of the invention have been described above withrespect to an Application Framework comprising a reference data modeland an interface specification defined for specific transport flowsrelated to QoS and bandwidth capabilities. This Application Frameworkmay be expanded, in accordance with some embodiments of the presentinvention to support other services that link network services,telecommunications information technology, and customers including, forexample: registration—enables the ASP to register services/applicationswith the Regional/Access Network; discovery—enables the Subscriber todiscover services/applications within the Regional/Access Network;subscription—enables the ASP to manage and maintain subscriber accounts;management—for validation of subscribers and relatedservices/applications; session—enables the xSP to manage and maintainsession establishment, Management: session control, and session teardownfor subscriber access to services/applications; authentication—enablesthe xSP to validate the user/subscriber for network access andservices/applications access—who are you?; authorization—enables the xSPto validate the user/subscriber for network access andservices/applications access—what permissions do you have?;profile—enables the xSP to manage and maintain user/subscriber profiledata; identify—enables the xSP to manage and maintain user preferences,profiles, identity data; presence—enables the xSP to know and maintainawareness of the current existence of the subscriber;notification—enables the xSP to notify the subscriber of relatedservices/applications information; and/or billing—enables the xSP tocapture subscriber/user billing data for network usage andservices/applications usage for mediating a common billing record. Theseother capabilities may provide a host of centralized software servicessupporting a distributed network computing environment linkingusers/subscribers to their desired services and applications.

8. Example Use Scenario—Turbo Button

A source of potential frustration for users of data services is thatdata rates supported by the network (e.g., 1.5 Mb/s downstream and 256Kb/s upstream) are often not properly matched with applicationrequirements. Even with the higher speeds afforded with DSL access,users of many applications (e.g., content download such as large MSOffice service packs or movie trailers, and on-line gaming) may beinterested in using a service that would provide an even higher accessspeed at the times they need it most by invoking a “Turbo Button”service. The higher access speed limit is achieved via a service profilechange that eliminates or lessens artificially imposed limits on theachievable speed in the user's PPP session. This section shows how theDSL Application Framework can support such a service, in accordance withsome embodiments of the present invention, starting with the referencemodel shown in FIG. 21.

Many implementations of a Turbo Button service are possible inaccordance with various embodiments of the present invention. For thepurposes of this section, we will work with a fairly simpleimplementation in which the service is provisioned by an NSP calledmyNSP.com. The user requests the turbo button service at the communityNSP's website during a browsing session at normal speed. Note that otherordering mechanisms are possible including mechanisms that are separatefrom the DSL session, e.g., using a telephone or a mass-distributed CD.

As mentioned above in certain embodiments of the present invention, theservice is implemented via provisioning rather than by using real-timesignaling. Under this assumption, a provisioning cycle is initiatedafter the user invokes the service and the provisioning completes beforethe effect is seen. Another result of this assumption is that the effectof the user's service invocation is permanent, i.e., once turbo speed inplace, it lasts until the user cancels the service and anotherprovisioning cycle occurs to reinstate the default service parameters.Real-time signaling may be needed to support a service that supportson-demand, brief turbo sessions on an as needed basis.

Once the user requests the turbo service, the NSP queries theRegional/Access network to find out what turbo options can be presentedto the user. The NSP may map the available upgrades to marketingcategories (e.g., fast, faster, wickedly fast). The user selects one ofthe options, and the NSP requests the profile from the Regional/Accessnetwork that supports the requested speed. The Regional/Access networkin turn pushes new policy (e.g., classifiers, rate limiters, priority)into the user's RG that will support the higher speed. It is importantto note that the service is still “Best Effort,” i.e., there is noassumption of a QoS guarantee at this time. A version of turbo buttonservice with QoS support may be implemented in accordance with otherembodiments of the present invention.

We will assume that the NSP authenticates its own users for servicessuch as Turbo Button. A centralized authentication service (as well asother ancillary services such as billing and presence functionality)could be implemented in the Regional/Access network on behalf of NSPsand ASPs in accordance with additional embodiments of the presentinvention. In a typical business model, the NSP might bill the user forusage of the turbo button service. In turn, the DSL network providerwould bill the NSP for carrying traffic across the Regional/Accessnetwork at turbo speeds.

Turbo Button Scenario Description

FIG. 22 illustrates an example of the sequence of events occurring withusing the Turbo Button Service to access sites via a network serviceprovider called “myNSP.com.” For simplicity of illustration, the detailsof the Regional/Access network (DSL Service Manager, UNI and ANIprotocol handlers, ACS, BRAS, etc.) are not shown—the expanded flowswere shown in Section 6.4. The step numbers shown in the figurecorrespond with the list provided below.

-   -   1. The user clicks an advertisement to reach the NSP's Turbo        Button subscription menu.    -   2. The NSP host authenticates itself with the Regional/Access        network in order to be able to access the customer profile it        wants to update.    -   3. Once authenticated, the NSP host then queries the        Regional/Access network for available options for the users        access session connection. It uses the response to this query to        put together a set of options for presentation to the customer.    -   4. The user selects one of the options.    -   5. The NSP requests the Regional/Access network to change the        session bandwidth associated with the access session. A        notification may be sent to the user indicating that the turbo        button provisioning is under way and that turbo speed will be        available later that day (for example).    -   6. Using Update Session Bandwidth messaging, the Regional/Access        network pushes new policy to the RG that will support the turbo        speed.    -   7. Once the new policy is in place, the user is able to enjoy        turbo speed access to sites served by the NSP. Note that all        users connected to the access session (i.e., other PC users on        the household LAN) would also enjoy the benefits of the turbo        button service.    -   8. Later, the user decides to cancel turbo button service.    -   9. Steps 5 and 6 are repeated with the profile and policy put in        place being those needed for default access session speeds.    -   10. The network has returned to its previous state and the        user's PPP session is no longer turbo'd.        9. Example Use Scenario—Video Conferencing

This section illustrates how the DSL Application Framework can support avideoconference service in accordance with some embodiments of thepresent invention. The video conferencing model used is a SIP-drivenservice implemented by an ASP with a centralized control/mixingconference server. This is the tightly coupled model being developed byan IETF Sipping WG design team that uses four logical entities: focus,conference state notification service, conference policy server element,and stream mixers. There are several ways that these entities can bespread over the available network segments. For example, the ASP and theRegional/Access network can each implement a subset of the entities; forexample, the ASP can implement the stream mixing while the rest of thelogical entities are implemented in the Regional/Access network. Such adivision may be feasible from a technical perspective, but theadditional exposed interfaces may require standardization or bilateralagreement. There might not be much of a business case for such a modelbecause there is little incentive for either the ASP or Regional/Accessnetwork to give up part of the service offering.

Furthermore, all of the entities can be implemented in theregional/Access network. This option offers some simplicity from theRegional/Access network provider's perspective because no ASP isinvolved. This would probably balanced, however, by the networkprovider's need to decouple the videoconference service offering fromthe general DSL networking aspects.

Finally, the ASP can implement all of the logical entities while theRegional/Access network provider concentrates on the transport issues.This approach is adopted for the rest of this section—the ASP handlesall of the mixing as well as the application layer control. A referencediagram for the service with three users is shown in FIG. 23.

From the user's perspective, the video conferencing service has thefollowing capabilities in accordance with some embodiments of thepresent invention: Creation/Activation: the user can interact with theASP and either request a reserved conference (without pre-designatedparticipants) or activate a previously reserved conference; Termination:the conference ends at a pre-designated time; Adding Participants: Allusers are designated in advance; Dropping Parties: Although individualparties may stop participation in the conference, the resources in thenetwork supporting their connections remain in place; and/or StreamMixing: Basic audio and video mixing are provided. Each participantreceives all of the other participants' audio and receives video fromthe participant with the loudest current audio.

Assumptions regarding the service are as follows: the ASP that offersthe videoconference service will host the MCU; the ASP's MCU willsupport the ASP's subscribers in all ASP networks for which that ASP isparticipating; videoconference client software compatible with an ASP'svideoconference service is resident on all participant PCs; users thatare not subscribed to the ASP's videoconference service will not besupported; DHCP leases do not expire; SIP Application Level Gateway(ALG) functions for handling NAT traversal are provided in the RG; theASP providing the videoconference service maintains a common addressrepository or locator for its subscribers. ASP's may be unwilling toshare or store their subscriber information in a network database;mechanisms are in place to support application level communicationbetween two ASP networks (see the dotted line shown); the ALG functionsin the RG use DiffServ Code Points (DSCP) from the voice and videostreams and the port information pushed to it through the ACS profile tomap audio and video flows to ports that are known to the BRAS forreclassification. A simpler approach may be to classify packets comingfrom the videoconference client based on packet type and protocol ID butthat would mean the audio and video RTh streams could not bedistinguished by the classifier and would have to share the samepriority; the DSCPs used by the videoconference clients arestandardized; and/or by its nature RTP is a unidirectional stream, butRTCP is bi-directional. Each pair of RTP and RTCP UDP streams defines achannel. To simplify the presentation, only one direction of the RTPstream is shown for audio and data and only one control stream is shown.Typical SIP and H.323 videoconference implementations may requireadditional data and control streams to complete fully bidirectional dataflows for all participants.

At least two workable business models can support this videoconferencingservice. In the simplest model, the videoconference ASP arranges for allpotential conference participants to have the necessary policies inplace to support the service. Once this infrastructure is provisioned,any subset of the participants can hold a videoconference at any time. Aslightly more complex model has some advantages for demonstrationpurposes—in this model, the videoconference ASP makes the necessarychanges needed in the network to support a particular videoconference(and only the participants for that conference receive upgraded profilesto support their session). This model, which is used in this section,does not require that the policy be in place at all times, but mayrequire a window (perhaps 24 hours) during which the provisioningchanges are made.

A number of billing models are possible. In some embodiments, the ASPbills (flat rate, usage, etc.) videoconference subscribers for theirservice. The Regional/Access network provider bills the ASP for hostingthe service on the ASP network and for the usage of the Regional/Accessnetwork. Note that additional opportunities for the business model arepossible for offering centralized billing, authentication, and presencecapabilities to videoconference ASPs.

The static provisioning model imposes some restrictions onvideoconferencing service models. Reservations are made well in advanceto allow the flow-through provisioning to occur before the start of theconference. The reservation window thus needs to close before the startof the conference, for example 24 hours prior. No real-time adjustmentof the schedule (such as early teardown because the participantsfinished early) is possible. The only way to update the participant listis for the user to request a replacement conference before thereservation window closes.

Despite the use of the static provisioning model, the ability to map aparticular conference's flows to a classifier still makes it possible tooffer reasonable service features. The user may be able to set upmultiple conference calls with different sets of people and withdifferent QoS and bandwidth requirements (for example, a reduced framerate may be desired for a conference a day after the conference in thisexample because several BRI users will be on the call). Without themapping between the flows and the classifier, the user may have beenable to have only one outstanding conference request. In addition, theuser may be able to modify the arrangements for a particular conference(e.g., if the participant roster or start/end times change) providedthat the reservation window (24 hour notice) has not closed.

A goal of this section is to demonstrate that the Framework andInterface and Data Model are sufficient-to support this basicvideoconference service. After discussing the individual streams neededfor videoconferencing, flows for setting up and tearing downvideoconferencing flows in accordance with some embodiments of thepresent invention are presented. At the end of this section, the networkmodel is expanded to include the DSL network's entities and furtherexercise the data model and messages that have been defined.

Videoconferencing Scenario Descriptions

The following sequence of events may occur in the process of registeringfor the ASP videoconference service, reserving a particular conference,and tearing it down once the conference is over. Assume that three usersA, B, and C will be involved in the videoconference and that A will bethe originator. For simplicity, the details of the Regional/Accessnetwork (DSL Service Manager, UNI and ANI protocol handlers, ACS, BRAS,etc.) are not shown—the expanded flows have been shown in Section 6.4.The step numbers shown in FIGS. 24 and 25 correspond with the listprovided below:

-   -   1. Assume that Users A, B, and C already have established PPP        sessions between their RG's and the DSL network provider.    -   2. On the videoconference ASP website, User A registers to be        able to set up videoconferences by setting up their user        profile, billing options, etc.    -   3. User A decides to hold a videoconference with Users B and C        on Tuesday 3:00-4:00 and arranges this with the videoconference        ASP.    -   4. The ASP establishes a service sessions with the        Regional/Access network and is authenticated.    -   5. The ASP sends application flow control requests to the        Regional/Access network requesting changes to support the        videoconference.    -   6. The Regional/Access network pushes new application flow        policies to the BRAS, ACS, and RG's A, B, and C that are        specific to the videoconference application. The videoconference        stream facilities are now available.    -   7. The videoconference starts at 3:00 on Tuesday (note that the        flow has now moved). Inside the control streams, the        videoconference ASP uses SIP to establish the necessary        conference legs to users A, B, and C. The streams from the users        are placed appropriately in the queues by the classifiers, are        mixed by the videoconference ASP, and appropriately mixed        streams are distributed to the participants.    -   8. At 4:00 on Tuesday, the conference is scheduled to end. The        videoconference ASP releases its internal resources for the        mixers and conference control, sends SIP BYE messages through        the control stream to clear the SIP dialogs with the users, and        sends a billing record so that the appropriate charging takes        place.    -   9. The videoconference ASP establishes a service session with        the DSL network (if necessary) and is authenticated.    -   10. The videoconference ASP requests deletion of the application        flow control records that supported the videoconference.        The Regional/Access network deletes the policy for the bandwidth        and QoS at the BRAS, ACS, and RG's for users A, B, and C. The        network has now been returned to its default state.        Flow Classification for Video Conferencing

The videoconference service may require three streams to carry audio,video, and signaling/control as shown in FIGS. 24-27. The flows referredto using a “+” sign in FIG. 27 may be set up dynamically at the VCclient and the DSCP may be assigned for the audio and video streams. TheALG/NAT maps of the 10.X.X.X ports to the corresponding IP address andports for audio and video specified in the ACS profile based on the DSCPset by the VC client. This may ensure that the RG, BRAS and ASPvideoconference MCU maintain consistent port information with regard tothe various flows.

The signaling/control stream is used at the application layer forpurposes, such as floor control and other needs, that are transparent tothe Regional/Access network provider. Assume that audio and controlpackets need to travel with high priority and thus are placed into theExpedited Forwarding queue at the RG. Video packets have medium priorityand hence will be placed into the Assured Forwarding queue at the RG.The videoconference service does not cause the user to emit any lowpriority packets that we are aware of; thus, the RG will not need toplace any packets into the Best Effort queue.

A goal is to demonstrate that it is possible for the ASP to push packetclassifier information into the DSL network at conference reservationtime so as to configure the DSL network for proper placement of packetsfrom the three streams into the appropriate queues as mentioned above.At the time that a videoconference is reserved (to occur in this case3:00-4:00 the next day), the user needs to get a conferenceidentifier/PIN from the videoconference ASP. The user will use thisconference identifier to get into the correct conference the next day,and will give the conference id to the other participants for the samepurpose. For the purposes of this section, assume that this conferenceidentifier does not need to show up in the data model because it isstrictly between the users and the ASP and somehow transferredtransparently to the DSL network provider.

The ASP needs to set up bandwidth and priority for the three streams(control, video, and audio) that are needed between each user and theASP using a Create Application Flow Control Request message. One benefitof looking at videoconference as a service example is to betterunderstand how the various flows would be set up and managed throughNATs and firewalls and still have those flows appropriately classifiedthroughout. Many protocols establish connections on well-known portsthat spawn data flows on ephemeral ports (i.e., dynamically spawned andassigned to a given multimedia call after the initial handshakes). Theproblem of firewall and NAT traversal is a complex one due, in part, tothe large number of different scenarios and the multitude of differentsolutions to solve them.

For this example, it is assumed that the RG has an ALG function for thesupport of SIP. Further it is assumed that there is a “trusted”relationship between the ASP and the Regional/Access network and the useof DSCP markings of packets can be used as part of the classificationprocess.

Referring to FIG. 24, information that is used for setting up andclassifying the flows required: for a videoconference in accordance withsome embodiments of the present invention is illustrated. First, duringthe initial setup, user A registers all participants and specifies thestart time and end times, etc. The ASP reserves IP addresses for theconference on its platform and updates each participant's RG by issuinga createAppFlowReq request to the Regional access network. The BRAS usesthe IP addresses specified by ASP₁ for reclassifying traffic to ASP₁ andwill use the IP of the RG and the DSCP for reclassifying traffic enroute to the videoconference client. The profile that gets pushed toeach participant will contain ASP₁'s IP addresses for control, audio,and video flows. When the start time for the videoconference approaches,each participant will activate their videoconference client on his orher PC and login to the reserved conference.

Once ASP₁ receives the control message for call setup, it can refer toits table of reserved addresses to be used for the conference.Capability set negotiation occurs at this time (e.g., could be includedin SDP component). The RG's ALG/NAT engine uses the DSCP and informationfrom the ACS profile to determine which port it should assign to the RTPflows from the videoconference client. This may ensure consistency forthe port information stored in the BRAS for reclassification. ASP₁, theBRAS, and the RG should now know all addresses, priorities and shapinginformation. The videoconference client's RTP streams can begin pushingaudio and video.

10. Example Use Scenario—Gaming

This section illustrates how the DSL Application Framework can support agaming service in accordance with some embodiments of the presentinvention. Though there are many different models for game play anddelivery, this section-discusses a particular class of games known as“massively multi-player interactive” games. Such games are characterizedby substantial numbers of players (greater than 10 and up to the 1000s)and real time or near real-time interactions. Such games placesignificant demands on network and game server infrastructures. Otherclasses of games that are not discussed here include turn based games,single player (turn based or real time interactive), and head to headinteractive games. Though each of these classes represents a significantnumber of games available to users, their network requirements are notnearly as complex as those of multi-player interactive games.

Gaming Service Overview

Two basic topologies are used to support network gaming: point to pointor client server. In client server topology, the player's workstationcommunicates with a central game server to which other players are alsoconnected. In the point to point topology, each player communicatesdirectly with each other player. A refinement of the client servertopology, the hierarchical client server topology, provides thenecessary infrastructure to support true massively multi-playerenvironments. These topologies are depicted in FIG. 28.

In the point to point topology, each gaming workstation must transmitits moves and state change information to each other gaming workstation.In addition, each workstation must maintain a consistent andsynchronized image of the game universe for each player. As such thepoint to point topology requires significant computation power in theend user workstation and typically will not scale to supporting morethan a number of users.

In both forms of the client server topology, the workstation and gameserver exchange information that is directly relevant only to a specificplayer. The client workstation is responsible for such tasks as managinguser interactions, rendering, and audio feedback, while the server isresponsible for maintaining a consistent view of the game universe andcommunicating changes to the view to player workstations. The differencebetween the two topologies is one of segmentation. In the hierarchicaltopology, a server is only responsible for maintaining the state of aportion of the universe. If a player connected to a particular server isinteracting with a portion of the universe outside the scope of theirimmediate server, that server must coordinate with other servers in thenetwork. This partitioning provides significantly more scalability thana simple client server topology.

In addition to maintaining game universe state at communicating statechanges to players, a gaming service may provide other auxiliaryfunctions including the following: Session Management: manages activeplayer lists, supports ability to invite participants to join a game;presence and availability management: supports the ability of players tolocate and determine if opponents are available for play;authentication: verify player identities and validate that players areusing correctly licensed software on their workstation; interactive chatand bulletin board: provides a forum for discussion of gaming topics.Can also be used during game play to allow for intra-team communication;and/or content downloads: provides software update and new game deliveryservices.

Basic game server functionality and auxiliary functions represent agaming service that may be offered in an ASP model in accordance withsome embodiments of the present invention. The game server and serversfor auxiliary functions are connected to the ASP network. Clientworkstations access a game server or auxiliary function server throughtheir ASP network connection. From the perspective of the DSL network,whether a gaming service implements a client/server or hierarchicalclient/server topology is not important. The DSL network is onlyinvolved in the transport of traffic between one or more gameworkstations and the game server to which they are connected. Thisservice model is show in FIG. 29.

Traffic and Flow Characterization

In a client/server multiplayer gaming service, the game server andplayer workstation communicate state change and play event informationin real time. The workstation informs the server of player triggeredevents including the following: Player moves; Player takes a shot;Player changes rooms; and/or Player picks up an object.

In a real-time game, the server reconciles these play event messages asthey are received from each workstation or peer server. It thencommunicates state change information to each client workstation. Thesestate change messages contain only information relevant to theparticular player—only information about objects currently visible tothe player is communicated. Examples of this information include:movement of other objects within the player's current view; hits made bythe player; damage incurred by the player; death of the player or otherplayers; and/or communication from the server or other players.Unfortunately, there does not appear to be a standard protocol for suchcommunications; each gaming system seems to define its own methods ofcommunication. The basic characteristics, however, seem to be similar.

While communication from the workstation to the server is typicallyevent driven, server to workstation communication is often continuous.Servers often send state change messages in frames at a defined rate—10,20, 30 frames per second. Frames tend to be significantly larger thanvoice or video frames. The total time required to send a user event,reconcile its impact on the game universe, and communicate state changeback to the workstation may become the limiting factor in playerreaction time. The longer the total time, the less reactive a player canbe and the less interactive the gaming experience may become.

Reconciliation time is driven by server capacity and load. Messagedelivery times are driven by network limitations. For many games, atotal round trip “ping” time of 200-350 ms is considered acceptablewhile 100 ms is considered exceptional. Anything greater than 500 ms maybecome very obvious to the player and is perceived as sluggishness. Aslatency increases it becomes more likely that players do not share aconsistent view of the universe.

In summary, game play related traffic can be characterized as follows:steady frame rate; large frame size (relative to voice or video); and/orlatency sensitive Auxiliary services generally do not share thesecharacteristics. They typically are similar or identical to traditionalInternet Web based services and do not suffer from significant impactsdue to latency.

The bandwidth requirement for play related traffic is generally lowerthan for video services, but the latency sensitivity of game playtraffic typically necessitates better than best-effort treatment. Flowsrelated to game play may be placed in an assured forwarding queue at aminimum. Auxiliary services may be handled on a best effort basis. Playrelated traffic and auxiliary service traffic are typically carried indifferent flows.

Traffic within a game play flow may be further differentiated inaccordance with additional embodiments of the present invention. Forexample, within the context of a particular game certain events may betreated with higher priority than others. This may be supported byallowing the application to use and set multiple diffserv code-points.Such use, however, may only be permitted if there is a trustedrelationship between the ASP gaming host and the transport network.

EXAMPLE SCENARIO DESCRIPTION

The call flow for gaming is similar to Turbo button. The game providerneeds to negotiate bandwidth profiles between the game server and theplayer workstation for the purposes of game play traffic. The steps inthis scenario are illustrated in FIGS. 30 and 31, in accordance withsome embodiments of the invention, as follows:

-   -   1. Subscriber establishes PPP session between RG and DSL network        provider.    -   2. Subscriber accesses ASP gaming providers web site and        registers for game play.    -   3. ASP gaming provider queries subscriber bandwidth profile and        determines current profile to be insufficient for game play.    -   4. ASP creates application bandwidth/QOS profile at Regional        Access Network.    -   5. ASP acknowledges subscription.    -   6. Regional access network pushes new flow qualifier and        bandwidth info for game service to routing gateway.    -   7. Subscriber joins game using QOS enabled session.        11. Operational Description

Operations and components for managing QoS in a communication networkhave been discussed above with reference to, for example, FIGS. 13-20,according to various embodiments of the present invention. QoS may alsobe managed as described more generally hereafter. QoS in a communicationnetwork may be related to how traffic is handled differently dependingupon, for example, their classifications. For example, the networkbandwidth, network link scheduling priorities, and/or other networkresources may be allocated differently depending upon the classificationof particular network traffic. To achieve allocated QoS levels, somenetwork traffic may be subject to constraints, such as, limits on thetraffic rates and/or size of packets (e.g., MTU size).

According to some embodiments of the present invention, QoS in acommunication network may be allocated differently to differentapplications and/or network services. A communication network maythereby be provisioned so that different applications and/or networkservices receive different QoS results. For example, QoS may beallocated differently to different application service providers and/ornetwork service providers. A network service provider may providedifferent QoS to different PPP sessions. When QoS is allocated to anapplication service provider, the access network may provide differentQoS to different applications that are associated with the same PPP.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, QoS may beallocated differently to different IP addresses. Accordingly,applications that are associated with the same IP address may beprovided the same or similar QoS, while applications that are associatedwith a different IP address may be provided a different QoS.

FIG. 32 shows exemplary operations that may be used for allocating QoSaccording to some embodiments of the present invention. At Block 100, arequest is made for a level of QoS for communication in a communicationnetwork. The request may be made by, for example, a QoS request from anapplication service provider to a network service manager. Anapplication service provider may makes the QoS request on its owninitiative and/or in response to a request from an application that ishosted by the application service provider.

At Block 110, a QoS request is validated to check that, for example, anapplication service provider and/or application is authorized to makethe request and/or that the requested QoS level is appropriate.Validation may be performed; for example, as described above in theabove-titled section Application Level Bandwidth and QoS ModificationScenario Message Flow. If the QoS request is determined to not be valid,at Block 110, then at Block 120 the requestor of the QoS request (e.g.,application service provider and/or application) is notified of a denialof the request.

A QoS request that is properly validated at Block 110 is then evaluatedat Block 130 to determine whether the requested QoS level is availablein the communication network (e.g., based on available network capacity)and/or among the communication devices that are to be communicating withthe requested QoS level (e.g., based on available network capacity of anend-user gateway or routing gateway). If the requested QoS level is notavailable, at Block 130, then at Block 140 the requestor of the QoSrequest (e.g., application service provider and/or application) isnotified of the available QoS level and/or is notified of a denial ofthe request.

When the QoS request is communicated in a data packet, the QoS requestmay be validated at Block 110 and/or evaluated at Block 130 based oninformation in a known field of the data packet. For example, a QoSrequest may be evaluated based on a protocol ID, source address,destination address, source port number, destination port number, and/orother information that is provided in a header field of a data packet.

When the requested QoS is available at Block 130, then at Block 150, theQoS is allocated to the application service provider and/or toparticular applications that are hosted by the application serviceprovider. For example, the allocation may be made by a network servicemanager (e.g., DSL Service Manager), and may be communicated to arouting gate to control communications with a user and to a broadbandremote access server to control communications with the applicationservice provider. Allocating QoS to a requestor may affect the QoSprovided to other applications. For example, a high priority applicationmay be allocated a QoS that may necessitate modification of the QoSprovided to lower priority applications. More particularly, starting aVoice-Over-IP (VOIP) session may cause a reduction in the packet size(e.g., Maximum Transmission Unit size) that may be communicated by otherapplications through the network.

An allocated QoS level may correspond to any characteristic relating tothe performance with which information may be communicated through thecommunication network. For example, an allocated QoS level maycorrespond to an allocation of network capacity (e.g., bandwidth),information delay, loss of information (e.g., error rate),prioritization of information for transmission, and/or traffic profile.A traffic profile may correspond to performance characteristics such as,for example, long term maximum traffic rate and/or short term burstsize, and may vary in a predefined manner over time.

Communications between a user and a service provider, and/or anapplication that is hosted on a service provider, may then be managedbased on the allocated QoS level. For example, such communications maybe managed so that the rate of communicated information is restricted tono more than an allocated capacity level, so that communication delay isno more than an allocated delay level, so that no more information in acommunication is lost than is allowed by an allocated loss rate, so thatcommunications are prioritized based on an allocated prioritizationlevel, and/or so that communications are limited to a predefined trafficprofile. The allocated QoS level may also define the size of packets(e.g., Maximum Transmission Unit size) that are communicated through thenetwork, and/or may cause a traffic profile to be modified based on theallocated QoS level.

Many variations and modifications can be made to the preferredembodiments without substantially departing from the principles of thepresent invention. All such variations and modifications are intended tobe included herein within the scope of the present invention, as setforth in the following claims.

1. A method of managing Quality of Service (QoS) in a communicationnetwork, the method comprising: for each of a plurality of applicationsof a service provider which will communicate across the communicationnetwork, requesting a level of network communication QoS using QoSrequests from the service provider; allocating levels of networkcommunication QoS to individual ones of the applications of the serviceprovider in response to the QoS requests by evaluating at a networkservice manager of the communication network the QoS that is availablein the communication network and by allocating from the network servicemanager a level of network communication QoS to a particular one of theapplications of the service provider in response to a QoS request forthe particular application and the evaluation of the QoS available inthe communication network; and managing, at the network service manager,network communication QoS that is provided by the communication networkto network communications from the individual applications of theservice provider in response to the network communication QoS levelsallocated to the respective individual applications, wherein thecommunication network comprises a wide area network.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein requesting a level of network communication QoS usingQoS requests from the service provider comprises generating a pluralityof QoS requests, wherein each of the QoS requests is for a different oneof the applications of the service provider.
 3. The method of claim 2,wherein allocating levels of network communication QoS to individualones of the applications of the service provider in response to the QoSrequests comprises allocating a level of network communication QoS to aparticular one of the applications of the service provider in responseto a QoS request for the particular application.
 4. The method of claim2, wherein: allocating levels of network communication QoS to individualones of the applications of the service provider in response to the QoSrequests comprises allocating a network capacity level forcommunications by a particular one of the applications of the serviceprovider in response to a QoS request for the particular application;and managing network communication QoS comprises constraining networkcommunications by the particular one of the applications of the serviceprovider to the allocated network capacity level.
 5. The method of claim2, wherein: allocating levels of network communication QoS to individualones of the applications of the service provider in response to the QoSrequests comprises allocating a communication priority level forcommunications through the wide area network from a particular one ofthe applications of the service provider through the communicationnetwork in response to a QoS request for the particular application; andmanaging network communication QoS comprises prioritizing networkcommunications by the particular one of the applications of the serviceprovider in response to the allocated communication priority level. 6.The method of claim 1, wherein: allocating levels of networkcommunication QoS to individual ones of the applications of the serviceprovider in response to the QoS requests comprises allocating an allowedinformation delay level for communications through the wide area networkfrom a particular one of the applications of the service provider inresponse to a QoS request for the particular application; and managingnetwork communication QoS comprises managing network communications bythe particular one of the applications of the service provider inresponse to the allocated allowed information delay level.
 7. The methodof claim 1, wherein: allocating levels of network communication QoS toindividual ones of the applications of the service provider in responseto the QoS requests comprises allocating an allowed information lossrate for communications through the communication network by aparticular one of the applications of the service provider in responseto a QoS request for the particular application; and managing networkcommunication QoS comprises managing network communications by theparticular one of the applications of the service provider in responseto the allocated allowed information loss rate.
 8. The method of claim1, wherein: allocating levels of network communication QoS to individualones of the applications of the service provider in response to the QoSrequests comprises allocating an allowed packet size for communicationsthrough the communication network by a particular one of theapplications of the service provider in response to a QoS request forthe particular application; and managing network communication QoScomprises constraining network communications by the particular one ofthe applications of the service provider in response to the allocatedallowed packet size.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein: allocatinglevels of network communication QoS to individual ones of theapplications of the service provider in response to the QoS requestscomprises allocating a Maximum Transmission Unit size for packetscommunicated through the communication network by a particular one ofthe applications of the service provider in response to a QoS requestfor the particular application; and managing network communication QoScomprises constraining packet size in network communications by theparticular one of the applications of the service provider in responseto the allocated Maximum Transmission Unit size.
 10. The method of claim1, wherein: allocating levels of network communication QoS to individualones of the applications of the service provider in response to the QoSrequests comprises modifying a profile of information that iscommunicated through the communication network by a particular one ofthe applications of the service provider in response to a QoS requestfor the particular application.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein thenetwork service manager comprises a DSL service manager.
 12. The methodof claim 1, wherein evaluating at a network service manager the QoSavailable in the network comprises validating the QoS request for theparticular application of the service provider.
 13. The method of claim12, wherein validating the QoS request comprises comparing the QoSrequest to a DSL session data store.
 14. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: communicating the QoS request in a data packet through thecommunication network; and evaluating the QoS request based oninformation in a known field in the data packet.
 15. The method of claim14, further comprising: identifying a protocol ID in the known field ofthe data packet; and evaluating the QoS request based on the identifiedprotocol ID.
 16. The method of claim 14, further comprising: identifyinga source address and/or a destination address in the known field of thedata packet; and evaluating the QoS request based on the identifiedsource address and/or the destination address.
 17. The method of claim14, further comprising: identifying a source port number and/or adestination port number in the known field of the data packet; andevaluating the QoS request based on the identified source port numberand/or a destination port number.
 18. The method of claim 1, whereinallocating the requested level of network communication QoS to theservice provider comprises notifying a broadband remote access server ofthe levels of network communication QoS allocated to particularapplications of the service provider.
 19. The method of claim 1, whereinallocating the requested level of network communication QoS to theservice provider comprises notifying a routing gateway of the levels ofnetwork communication QoS allocated to particular applications of theservice provider.
 20. The method of claim 1, further comprisingnotifying the individual applications of the service provider of thelevels of network communication QoS that have been allocated thereto.21. A computer program product for managing Quality of Service (QoS) ina communication network, the computer program product comprising programcode embodied in a computer-executable medium, the computer program codecomprising: service provider program code that when executed by aprocessor is configured to request a level of network communication QoSfor each of a plurality of applications of a service provider which willcommunicate across the communication network using QoS requests from theservice provider; QoS allocation program code that when executed by aprocessor of a network service manager of the communication network isconfigured to allocate levels of network communication QoS to individualones of the applications of the service provider in response to the QoSrequests by evaluating at the network service manager the QoS that isavailable in the communication network and by allocating from thenetwork service manager a level of network communication QoS to aparticular one of the applications of the service provider in responseto a QoS request for the particular application and the evaluation ofthe QoS available in the communication network, and is configured tomanage network communication QoS that is provided by the communicationnetwork to network communications from the individual applications ofthe service provider in response to the network communication QoS levelsallocated to the respective individual applications, wherein thecommunication network comprises a wide area network.
 22. The computerprogram product according to claim 21, wherein the QoS allocationprogram code when executed by a processor is configured to allocate anetwork capacity level for communications by a particular one of theapplications of the service provider in response to a QoS request forthe particular application, and the QoS network management program codewhen executed by a processor is configured to restrict communications bythe particular one of the applications through the communication networkto the allocated network capacity level.
 23. The computer programproduct according to claim 21, wherein the QoS allocation program codewhen executed by a processor is configured to allocate a networkcommunication priority level for communications by a particular one ofthe applications of the service provider through the communicationnetwork in response to a QoS request for the particular application, andthe QoS network management program code when executed by a processor isconfigured to prioritize communications by the particular one of theapplications through the communication network in response to theallocated communication priority level.
 24. The computer program productaccording to claim 21, wherein the QoS network management program codewhen executed by a processor is configured to shape information flowfrom a particular one of the applications of the service providerthrough the communication network in response to the QoS request for theparticular application.
 25. The computer program product according toclaim 21, further comprising program code that when executed by aprocessor is configured to validate the QoS request for a particular oneof the applications of the service provider by comparing the QoS requestto a DSL session data store.
 26. The computer program product accordingto claim 21, further comprising program code that when executed by aprocessor is configured to identify an application program of theservice provider that is associated with the QoS request, and isconfigured to evaluate the QoS request based on the identifiedapplication program.
 27. The computer program product according to claim21, further comprising program code that when executed by a processor isconfigured to notify a broadband remote access server of the levels ofnetwork communication QoS allocated to particular applications of theservice provider.
 28. The computer program product according to claim21, further comprising program code that when executed by a processor isconfigured to notify a routing gateway of the levels of networkcommunication QoS allocated to particular applications of the serviceprovider.
 29. A communication system comprising: a service provider; anapplication framework infrastructure; an access network communicativelycoupling the service provider and the application frameworkinfrastructure; a plurality of routing gateways; and a wide area networkthat communicatively couples the application framework infrastructureand the plurality of routing gateways, wherein the service provider isconfigured to request a level of network communication QoS for each of aplurality of applications of the service provider which will communicateacross the wide area network using QoS requests from the serviceprovider, wherein the application framework infrastructure is configuredto allocate levels of network communication QoS to individual ones ofthe applications of the service provider in response to the QoSrequests, and wherein the routing gateways manage network communicationQoS that is provided to network communications through the wide areanetwork by individual ones of the applications of the service providerin response to the allocated levels of network communication QoS. 30.The communication system of claim 29, wherein the application frameworkinfrastructure is configured to identify at least one of the pluralityof routing gateways that communicates with the applications of theservice provider, and is configured to notify the identified at leastone of the plurality of routing gateways of the levels of networkcommunication QoS allocated to particular applications of the serviceprovider.
 31. The communication system of claim 29, further comprising abroadband remote access server, wherein the application frameworkinfrastructure is configured to notify the broadband remote accessserver of the levels of network communication QoS allocated toparticular applications of the service provider.
 32. A method ofmanaging Quality of Service (QoS) in a communication network, the methodcomprising: allocating a different network communication QoS level toeach one of a plurality of applications of a service provider byevaluating at a network service manager of the communication network the005 that is available in the communication network and by allocatingfrom the network service manager a level of network communication QoS toa particular one of the applications of the service provider in responseto a QoS request for the particular application and the evaluation ofthe QoS available in the communication network; and managing, at thenetwork service manager, network communication QoS that is provided bythe communication network to network communications from the individualones of the applications of the service provider in response to thenetwork communication QoS levels allocated to the respective individualapplications, wherein the communication network comprises a wide areanetwork,
 33. A method of managing Quality of Service (QoS) in acommunication network, the method comprising: allocating a differentnetwork communication QoS level to each one of a plurality of IPaddresses associated with different applications of a service providerby evaluating at a network service manager of a communication networkthe QoS that is available in the communication network and by allocatingfrom the network service manager a level of network communication QoS tothe IP addresses associated with particular ones of the applications ofthe service provider in response to a QoS request for the particularapplication and the evaluation of the QoS available in the communicationnetwork; and managing, at the network service manager, networkcommunication QoS that is provided by the communication network tonetwork communications from individual ones of the applications inresponse to the network communication QoS levels allocated to theassociated IP addresses, wherein the communication network comprises awide area network.